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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:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "customerservice2011@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rose James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customerservice2011@live.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:05:33 -1200
Subject: It is very important for your compensation.
Attn;
The International Monetary Funds (IMF) in conjunction with the Financial Services Authority (FSA), Benin- Republic has founds your email address among the 7 Scam Victims, listed to be compensated of ($4,000,000.00 USD) Four Million United State Dollars. The arrangement is for UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA ( UBA ) Benin Republic to issue an ATM CARD of this valued amount in your name and send you the HARD COPY via a capable Courier Company. Send your below details to Mr.Paul Ralph the (FSA) sectary here: ( customerservice2011@live.com ) for more details and urgent registration of your ATM CARD for delivery.
Your Full Name
Your Address
Your Phone Number
It is very important for your compensation.
Regards,
Mrs. Rose James
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This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
