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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Alfred Mac Rea" <stcales2003@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: bankofamerica10176@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 23:02:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: payment notification from the Federal Ministry of Finance
Attn :
This is to let you know that we received a payment notification from the Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with our corresponding bank to pay you through their Oil Reserve Account with our bank. In order for us to commence on the Electronic Wire Transfer of your funds.
You are required to provide the followings below:
{1}. Your Full Name and Address.:
{2}. Your Confidential Tel, Cell and
{3). Your Bank name and address.:
{4). Your A/c Name and Numbers.:
(5). Your Swift Code / Routing Numbers.: to enable us check if it is inline with bank information given to us.
Please do provide the above information accurately, because this office cannot afford to be held liable for any wrong transfer of funds or liability of funds credited into a ghost account.
Thanks for banking with Bank of America while we looking forward to serving you with the best of our service.
Kenneth D. Lewis
Chairman, CEO and President.
Mr. Alfred Mac Rea
A/C officer B O A Georgia Branch.
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Anti-fraud resources:
