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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- payment_compensation@ig.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sir.John Brandon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <payment_compensation@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:55:39 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
A cash grant compensation of $1.2million from the United Nations and in conjunction with the United Kingdom HM Revenue has decided to compensate you with the above sum through your chosen choice of delivery.
Please do Re-confirm your FULL NAME, CURRENT ADDRESS, ANY OF YOUR VALID ID CARD, and TELEPHONE NUMBERS for the confirmation, issuance and transfer of your funds to you and all its relevant documents will also be sent to you for reference purpose and for you to prove to anyone who ask.
Finally you can contact your the officer in charge of the release of your payment through these details:
Foreign Department Officer: Mr.Chris Adele
mobile number: +44 744 844 7374
Email: payment_compensation@ig.com.br
CONGRAT ONCE AGAIN
Sir.John Brandon
Chairman
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Anti-fraud resources:
