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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:
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Terry SMith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terrysmith22@w.cn>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2012 17:41:30 +0700
Subject: Hello
Attention: Beneficiary,
This mail is to notify you that the release of funds to your name has been
clarified from EFCC Office Nigeria, and we are ready to make transfer to you
without any further delay.
The said funds in the tone of $500,000.00 is available and ready for
instant transfer.
The deed was approved by board on foreign exchange control committee of
Westpac Bank in conjunction with the department of the executive office of
the director, subject to bellow conditions.
1. That beneficiary should confirm their bank account particular contained
therein by a written and signed statement to the international remittance
department of Westpac Bank.
2. That beneficiary is required to make payment of $90 only for funds processing
to enable the transfer go through without any further
delay.
By this recognition the director Westpac bank under section 15 paragraph
11 article 9(A) of the enabling act 1990 do hereby approve this payment
order subject to the fulfillment of the aforementioned conditions by the
beneficiary WBU/RBF/4580/XC VOL. 95KD
As soon as the payment of $90 for fund processing is available, the crediting
department will credit your account accordingly and will be ready for instant transfer.
As soon as the above information is available we shall proceed.
Thanks for your understanding.
Regards,
Terry Smith
Account officer
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Anti-fraud resources:
