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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "F.B.I" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drpamwil@fastmail.us>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:43:54 +0200
Subject: F.B.I SENIOR DEPARTMENT DESK OF DR.PAM WILLIAMS.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) SENIOR DEPARTMENT DESK OF DR.PAM WILLIAMS.
ATTN:
In regard to your package which contain the mastercard.
Fedex update me today that your package have stay long than what they expected and they want you to show some seriousness to the charge fee required to get the package shipped to you.
I know things are hard now in terms of financially but you need to know that this package is very important and the total amount the mastercard contain is $20 Million usd and your daily limit withdraw is $15,000 per day program by the Internation Credit system.
The charge fee required to pay the security keeping fee is $100 and this is the last and only fee required if any other fee occurs i will make sure fedex return all the money you have sent previously so you have nothing to worry about.
ONCE YOUR PACKAGE IS SHIPPED AND YOU RECEIVE IT YOU CAN START TO MAKE TRANSACTION/WITHDRAW FROM ANY ATM SYSTEM. HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND
I assure you that i will make sure shipment commence once the charge fee is paid.
Await your reply and let me know if your are ready to send the charge fee so i can update fedex Emmanuel Johnson and i will also send you the information you will need to send the $100 so the charge fee can be paid to enable shipment of your package.
NOTE: THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOUR MASTERCARD CONTAIN IS $20 MILLION USD AND THIS INCLUDE INTEREST UP TILL DATE. YOUR DAILY LIMIT WITHDRAW IS $15,000 PER DAY.
Have a wonderful day and remember all you need to send is $100 only to complete everything.
AWAIT YOUR REPLY SO I CAN SEND YOU THE INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO SEND THE SECURITY KEEPING.
Dr.Pam Williams
SENIOR OFFICE DEPARTMENT
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC.
J. Edgar Hoover Building 935
Pennsylvania Avenue,NW Washington,
D.C.20535-0001, USA
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Anti-fraud resources:
