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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- markng05@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mark Ignatius" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markng05@googlemail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:43:47 +0100
Subject: Send Prove.
Attn: Sir,
I wish to inform you that your oustanding payment which is owe to you as a result of the contract/inheritance funds has been approved for immediate payment into your bank account. This speedy approval of the funds was made available by the Presidency and the senate committe on foreign contract debt. You are hereby advised to furnish us with your prove on claim of funds and it will be in your own interest to stop futher communication with people that ascribe to themselves positions of authority they did not rising to. Note that this office will not be held responsible for any delay or lapses caused by any client in pursuant of this claim.
Finally, it's pertinent also to note that the Presidency and the senate committee on foreign debt held a joint meeting with the United Nation in respect of this in making sure that all debt own to any foreigner in the shore's of Africa must be paid to stop these internet fraud going on in Africa and the world over. We are very sorry for the inconviniences this must have caused you as we are on the verge of maintaining a good name among other community of nations. Note that payment will not be effected without adequate prove of claim etc and also note that if you are among those that are dealing with those that ascribe to themselves positions of authority they did not rising to, i'm sorry because your documentation's to your claim might not be possible as we are going to scrutinize all documments to make sure we pay the rightful persons.
Once again we are sorry for any inconviniences this have caused you in the past. This message might enter spam that does not make it spam message but it's due to server we are using here. So treat it with every trust. You are advised to contact me through my private email add: markng05@googlemail.com
We are looking forward in seeing your response. Also if you are not one of the above, and wish to strike a deal with me i will up date you on that now i am incharge of the payment. Note that opportunity come's but one's. Today i am here tomorrow i don't know where i will find my self. So i have to make use of my chances. Respond asap.
Yours Sincerely,
MARK IGNATIUS (CHAIRMAN SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN DEBT.)
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