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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:
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- pastormrsjuan@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Pastor Mrs Juan Obi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <informations@webmail.co.za>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 09:31:36 -0700
Subject: RE: YOUR FUND PLEASE IS WITH MY BANK
MY NAME IS PASTOR MRS JUAN OBI.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS PLEASE IF YOU ARE NOT THE WOENER OF THIS MONEY PLEASE LET ME KNOW I NEED TRUST.
MY NAME IS PASTOR MRS JUAN OBI I AM A PASTOR OF THE AMAZING GRACE CHURCH. NOW I AM JUST COMING BACK FROM ONE BANK THAT HAVE YOUR FUND OF $2.500,000.00 PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW FROM YOU IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THIS YOUR FUND AND THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR FUND WAS BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE JUNIOR OFFICER IN THE BANK SO THEY DID NOT LINK YOU UP ON TIME TO THE REMITTANCE MANAGER OF THE BANK IN CHARGE OF YOUR TRANSFER SO QUICKLY REPOND BACK TO THIS MAIL SO THAT I CAN LINK YOU UP TO THE REMITTANCE MANAGER OF THE BANK IN CHARGE OF YOUR TRANSFER.
THANKS
PASTOR MRS JUAN OBI.
pastormrsjuan@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
