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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.P.E." <nanpexltd@unnunk.com>
Reply-To: patrick.ebube601@live.com
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:36:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: To Notify You, Check Details Bellow.
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION:!!!!!
WE HAVE BEING WAITING FOR YOU TO COME DOWN HEAR AND PICK UP YOUR INHERITANCE FUND OF 2.1MILLIOM USD, WHICH HAS BEEN GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED TO YOU VIA THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF OUR BANK,
WE HAVE SENT SEVERAL NOTIFICATION TO YOUR FORWARDED ADDRESS WE DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM YOU WE DEPOSITED YOUR FUND WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT BANK. (THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC.#) AND WE HAVE ARRANGED WITH THEM TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT TO YOU WITH THERE NEW ATM MASTER CARD. WHICH YOU CAN USE TO WITHDREW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MARCHING AROUND THE GLOBAL WORLD.
YOU HAVE TO CONTACT THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC. LONDON ENGLAND WITH YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATION'S SUCH AS: FULL NAME;......PHONE:........AGE:....RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS........
HOWEVER KINDLY CONTACT THE BELOW PERSON WHO IS IN POSITION TO RELEASE YOUR ATM MASTER CARD.
CONTACT PERSON: DR .MIKE JOHNSON.
DIRECTOR. ATM DEPARTMENT ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC#. LONDON ENGLAND.
CONTACT EMAIL:(atmcenter0012009@live.com)
PHONE:+44724044920,
YOU ARE ADVICE TO CONTACT HIM NOW FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR ATM CARD.
GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
BEST REGARD'S.,
ASSISTANTS DIRECTOR REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
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Anti-fraud resources:
