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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million us 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)
- 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.
- re.citibank@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: CITI BANK <offeicefile.3@msn.com>
Reply-To: CITI BANK <fcb.usa@drivehq.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 11:02:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Transaction_Alert=E2=80=8F=E2=80=8F_?=
 A pleasant good morning to you and your family, we have moved your funds down to First Citizens Bank on Friday 21/11/2014.
With this, you can easily receive the funds without any more hindrance or delays because as we are having problems here from the ministry of finance, not allowing the money to go through because the money is huge amount of money $85 Million US Dollars. So we decide to forward this down to First Citizens Bank for an easy payment to you.
Try and contact the bank now so they could complete this payment to you at once. Please do comply with them so your lost hope can be restored back and everyone will have rest of mind about this. This is the information they require from you;
Your full name-------------
Country-----------------------
Bank-----------------------------
Account number --------------
Routing no-------------------------
Swift Code-------------------------
Your phone number----------------
Occupation------------------------------
A copy of your identity
Please make sure you identify this code to them (CITI-2B4) that is the transaction code number we have given to them for you regarding this funds. So take note they will ask this code from you.
Person to contact: Mr. Thomas Ewing
Address: 10 South Main Street Wellsville, NY 14895 United States
E-mail:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â fcb.usa@drivehq.com
PHONE:Â Â Â 646-693-6535
Thanks,
Mr. Anthony Anukwu
For the management CITIBANK
E-mail Address:Â re.citibank@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
