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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: dr.johnson bello <dr.jbjhohnson10@msn.com>
Reply-To: <robert.duke0000@e-mail.ua>
Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 13:10:22 +0000
Subject: GRAB YOUR CERTIFIED ATM VISA CARD NOW!!!
Good day!!!,
We wish to inform you that your overdue payment has be scheduled to pay you through certified ATM Card which you will be only required to proceed to any ATM Cash Point to withdraw $5000 per day till your complete payment fund of $1.9Million Usd are completed.
This development was as result of new payment policy revolution of 2012 carry out by the World Financial Body in collaboration with World Bank Audit unit and United Nations Policy maker unit under world bank new year payment constitution.
This effort is to help the international monitoring fund restrict and monitor every international transaction to avoid money laundering activities and will help us to fight against fraudulent activities from scam experts.
Furthermore you are advice to reconfirm your billing address including your full name and direct contact telephone number to our representatives for the issuance and delivery of your certified ATM WITHDRAWAL CARD,
Contact us immediately with the below information:
Name: Sir. Robert Duke
E-mail: ( robert.duke0000@e-mail.ua )
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight
I shall be urgently waiting to hear from you shortly.
Yours,
Dr. Johnson Bello
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Anti-fraud resources:
