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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- worldbankagent100@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: World Bank<noreply@wordbank.com>
Reply-To: worldbankagent100@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2017 02:02:28 -0700
Subject: Overdue Payment
The SWIFT (www.swift.com)
The global provider of secure financial messaging services & Intercepted Funds commission
World Bank affiliate
Ref: FUNDS/INTERCEPTED-SWIFT-USD2017/5056605
Dear Beneficiary,
Be informed that the SWIFT intercepted funds and financial message services third quarter 2017 fund reconfirmation, World banks data base exploration and international payment server exploration has ended successfully with mandate to finalized intercepted transactions, inheritance funds clearance, unpaid lot funds, interrupted contract payments and delayed compensations.
We have however been duly acquainted of the guidelines by World Bank and all the statutory and legal requirements that will transfer the title of bonafied beneficiary of your fund to you under the international finance regulations should now conform with the procedural laws in the execution of all transactions via online banking and secured cash system as strongly recommended to guarantee genuine legitimate bank transactions and undue payment conditions unleashed to fund beneficiaries.
As a Fund remittance specialist to the International Swift department of the World Bank to all intercepted funds, a server exploration revelation disclosed a secured fund in your name and I could assist in guiding you to claiming and clearing of your overdue funds.
Why you did not seek and contact the Int. Swift office affiliated to the World Bank for your fund? Why have you not complained or seek to reach the intercepted Swift office to lament your overdue payments inconveniences which has made you to lose so much money to dubious agents?
I advise you to contact me for an immediate funds recovery protocols so as to finalize your long overdue payments without further delay.
For further communication and further instruction: worldbankagent100@gmail.com
Sincerely
PATRICK WILBERFORCE
Swift agents & intercepted funds Payment Coordinator
International Banking Division
The World Bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
