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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- sheila.kayat55@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sheila Kayat Esq." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sheila.kayat55@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:11:59 +0100
Subject: R: Notice
Dear Beneficiary,
RE - IMMEDIATE FUND TRANSFER OF YOUR PAYMENT TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT
My name is Sheila Kayat Esq. Director of international transfer and Telex programming Barclays Capital Malaysia on behalf of the executive board of directors I wish to use this medium to inform you that because of the inability of the Barclays bank London to complete your transfer in the last quarter year 2009 due to the Global and Bank financial crisis.
Be informed that we have decided to use the first quarter of this year 2010 to complete all outstanding fund transfer to all beneficiaries and today we received a renewed mandate/instruction with full re-approvals to effect the transfer of your fund to your nominated bank account.
You are advised to complete the attached Activation Form and send it back to me immediately to enable us program and activate the transfer to be confirmed in your account within 48hours
mail me on receipt of this message
Yours faithfully
Sheila Kayat Esq.
Head of Intl Transfer
Email: sheila.kayat55@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
