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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.
- 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 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)
- "unitednations@e-mail.ua" (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.
- 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.
- mikecrawford059@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Liu Jiayi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikecrawford059@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:36:28 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY
UNITED NATIONS (UN)
Debt Reconciliation Department
Geneva- Switzerland
Chairman Committee On Foreign
Contract And Inheritance fund Payment Notification
From United Nations and USA Government
Mr. Liu Jiayi
Attn: BENEFICIARY,
We are humbly using this medium to inform you that your Inheritance/Contract payment of US$1Million with accrued interest now totalling US$2.5 Million Dollars has been approved to be released to you today through the ZURICH FINANCIAL TRUST with release code 665875IHN, approve code APP52106773 and Payment file# FGM/PMT/1094326. You are strongly advised to contact the Paymaster of ZURICH FINANCIAL TRUST , Mr Mike Crawford via his email: mikecrawford059@gmail.com and send him your below details which will empower him to credit the funds to your account today.
1. Your Name
2. Your contact Phone and Mobile Numbers
3. Your Bank Name
4. Your Bank Address.
5. Your Bank Swift OR Routing Number.
6. Your Account Number.
7. Your Account Beneficiary Name.
8. Your Beneficiary Address.
Urgently contact us on Email: unitednations@e-mail.ua and report after 24hours you did not receive the said fund from Mr Mike Crawford for investigations.
Thanks and wait to hearing your reports.
REGARD
Mr. Liu Jiayi
(Chairman Committee On Foreign Contract And Inheritance fund
Payment Notification from United Nations and USA Government
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Anti-fraud resources:
