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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
- atmdepartment31@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "david williams" <davwils66@me.by>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:26:08 +0100
Subject: CONTACT ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR PAYMENT !!!!
HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND.
I HAVE DEPOSITED THE CHEQUE WITH ECO BANK OF AFRICA,TO PROCESS IT INTO ATM
MASTER CARD FOR YOU.
ALL THE ARRANGEMENT OF PROCESSING YOUR CHEQUE OF(USD$1.5m) ONE MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS INTO ATM MASTER CARD WILL BE MADE ON
YOUR CONTACT WITH ATM DEPARTMENT WITH ECO BANK OF AFRICA PLC COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC.
CONTACT MR.BENARD SHAIBU.
EMAIL:(ATMDEPARTMENT31@YAHOO.COM) YOUR CONTACT TO ENABLE THEM PROCESS YOUR
MASTER CARD FAST.
PLEASE KINDLY RECONFIRM THE FOLLOW INFORMATIONS.
1.FULL NAME:___________
2.ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD:_______
3.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER:________
4.YOUR COUNTRY:_______
5.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION:_______
6.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION:________
NOTE THAT IT WAS AGREED THAT YOU WILL SEND TO THEM THE SUM OF $285.00 ONLY
FOR THE PROCESSING OF YOUR ATM MASTER CARD.
REGARDS
MR. DAVID WILLIAMS.
Anti-fraud resources:
