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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- credit.debitcardunit@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM Consultant" <credit.debitcardunit@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:31:11 -0400
Subject: PLEASE CONFIRM.
ATM security knowledge center
Plot 22A Spintex Road.
Accra-Ghana.
Email:credit.debitcardunit@gmail.com
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that the only way we could have release your
ATM Visa Card to you is without you paying any upfront payment for
the delivery cost and the insurance fee is by you providing us with a
Fee Waiver certificate,guaranteed by Mr.Alex Tetteh of the
Beneficiary payment board.But he just confirmed that you have refused
to applied for the said Fee's Waiver certificate because of $185usd
cost for it.
Well,We wish to announce to you that our management had given an
ultimatum of 48hours that if you didn't get back to us and nothing is
done for the delivery of this card to you,We will have no option but
to keep these cards in our cards expiration and damage unit as this
will be regarded as non- function-able card.
Your action is required within 48hours as it is stated above or
forfeit these card.
Yours Sincerely,
Chris Miller.
Credit Center Consultant.
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Anti-fraud resources:
