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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- +447092885087 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447045735468 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- white.david21@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "THE UK FOUNDATION FOR BASIC RESEARCH." <legaldept_994@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: white.david21@yahoo.ca
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 06:32:51 +0500
Subject: RE: LUCKY WINNER: CHECK YOUR MAIL BOX FOR DETAILS
GRANT AWARD DONATION!!
THE UK FOUNDATION FOR BASIC RESEARCH.
ATTENTION: WINNER
We wish to notify you that this email address was randomly selected and
entered into our free 2ND Category draws. You have subsequently
emerged a winner and therefore entitled to a substantial amount of
£500,000.00 Pounds.
You are required to contact the Claims Processing Manager below, for
qualification documentation and processing of your claims. Please
endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (N-222-6647, E-910-56),
REF Number: SW/90/0021/7896/56 BATCH No: 34/0065/KJY in all
discussions.
Executive Sec.MR. David White.
Claims Processing Manager
TEL: +44 7045 7354 68
FAX: +4470 9288 5087
REPLY-TO: white.david21@yahoo.ca
Sincerely Yours,
MRS.MARRY JACK.
THE PROMOTION COORDINATOR,
Anti-fraud resources:
