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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million 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)
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "laura14carlson@9.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "SEN). Usman Sadhi" <reshelman@redwire.net>
Reply-To: laura1carlson@sify.com
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:39:59 -0800 (PST)
Subject:
--
OFFICE OF THE SENATE HOUSE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT (CBN) AND HSBC LONDON.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
IKOYI-LAGOS NIGERIA
DATE: 12/01/2010
OurRef: RGN /NRT/SHN
This is to officially inform you that your payment have been approved (ATM
Cash Card Number 62805120033800XXXXX)has been approved by The Central Bank
of Nigeria,(CBN),working in relationship with the United Nations and the
world bank. In view of this your approved amount of ($3,800,000.00 Million
United States Dollars) this card center will send you a CASH CARD which
you will use to withdraw your money from any ATM machine in any part of
the world. But the maximum withdrawal is FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY. If
you like to receive your fund this way, do contact my Secretary for
delivery as soon as possible:
Mrs. Laura C. Carlson
Email: laura14carlson@9.cn
with the following information's
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:(P.O BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE).
YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION:
KINDEST REGARDS,
(SEN). Usman Sadhik
CHAIRMAN SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT.
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Anti-fraud resources:
