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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "office file" <officefile2007@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 02:23:28 -0700
Subject: OCEANIC BANK PLC
ATTN SIR,
THE MANAGEMENT OF OCEANIC BANK PLC WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN
RECEIPT OF OUR DRAFT CHEQUE ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR WITH CASH AMOUNT OF
$1.850,000 ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENT AND HE TOLD US TO CANCELLED THE
CHEQUE,BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO RECEIVE IT,SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US
IMMEDIATELY AND TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON.YOU CAN CONTACT OUR MANAGER MRS
EDITH MICHEAL ON THIS WEBADDRESS; (bankoceanic37@yahoo.dk) BEFORE WE CAN
TAKE ANY ACTION.
WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MRS EDITH MICHEAL.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
OCEANIC BANK PLC
Anti-fraud resources:
