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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sandoval <mmsandoval4good@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sandoval@megamail.pt
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:59:10 +0000
Subject: Hello Get Back to our office today
Sir
This is to inform you that your over due contract or inheritance sum has been
approved by the office of the presidency for onward payment into your account.
We want to let you know that your receiving account information was submitted to
our office yesterday money for the immediate remittance of the said payment by
a woman in the person of Mrs Virginia Walter. in quot.
with the following account information which she presented to our office
showing that you have authorised her to claim your payment on your behalf.
NAME: MRS. VIRGINIA WALTER.
BANK NAME: WELLS FARGO BANK
BANK ADDRESS:CALIFORNIA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
Therefore confirm this account if it belongs to you by sending an email to our
office and also your telephone number and fax number for further
communication..
As soon as you get this email today quickly get in touch with our office to
enable us ascertain the authenticity of the above given account before payment
Hence our bank will not be held liable for any wrong transfer of your fund to
the giving bank account as stated above.
Reply soonest.
Mora Sandoval
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Anti-fraud resources:
