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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Tom Adams <tomadams1918@live.com>
Reply-To: tomadams1960@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:02:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Your payment; ref; numbers 000999/CBN/7535/2009/10.Urgent
I was directed to contact you, this is to officially inform you that your
outstanding contract/inheritance funds valued of $2.5Million. Us Dollars has
been returned to the Nigerian Bank by United Nations that held it and the
bank has decided to get the funds to you via bank to bank transfer without
any charges.
Please kindly get in touch with us immediately and provide your Bank details
along with your full Name and Home Address together with Cell phone # and
the transfer will be affected immediately and you will have the funds with
in 24hrs.
You can be rest assured that everything will go well and you will receive
your funds in no time and sorry about the inconvenience you encountered with
the previous payment officer.
Note: And also if you want us to send it to you via ATM Card or Bank Draft,
it's going to takes approximately 48hrs to deliver to you but you will be
responsible for the delivery charges.
Also as soon I receive your details I will be forwarding it to the paying
bank immediately. For the transfer of your $2.5Million. Us Dollars into your
bank account. If you wise to receive your funds through bank to bank
transfer.
Have a nice day. And remain blessed; Your Urgent Response is needed
Best Regards.
Mr. Tom Adams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
