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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: CITIBANK NEW YORK <ludaversion@yorkbgroup.com>
Reply-To: citibnknewyork-desk04@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:30:58 -0500
Subject: File Number: CT-76-BK990
New York State
Citibank (New York State)
Tel: 1 206 984 4161
Fax: 1 603 687-0839
File Number: CT-76-BK990
Approval Number: BB-44112-NY
Attention: Beneficiary
Re-Final Notification on your Fund Transfer of $3,000,000.00
We write to draw your attention to your payment of $3,000,000.00, which have
been approved by the Homeland Land security for the immediate transfer into
your nominated Bank account of your choice.
We do hereby request that you provide us with the accurate information for the
payment to be release to you immediately.
1.Full Name:..............................................................
2.Address:.................................................................
3.Nationality:.............................................................
4.Age:.........................Date of
Birth:..........................................
5.Occupation:.............................................................
6.Phone:...............Phone 2:...................Fax:...........
7.State of Origin:......................Country:........................
You are requested to furnish us with the above mention information immediately
for us to conclude the payment/transfer modalities.
Yours Sincerely,
Ronald F. Franklin.
Citibank New York
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Anti-fraud resources:
