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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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.
- schafferbode@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "INTERGRATED PAYMENT DEPARTMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jclayton147@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:33:11 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT OFFICE(atm)
Attn: Beneficiary,
We hereby officially notify you about the present arrangement to pay you your over due contract/inheritance funds which you could not complete the process of the released of your transfer. We have decided to pay your funds through (ATM Master Express Credit Card or Bank to Bank Transfer) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank and FBI, due to fraudulent activities going on within the world.
The World Bank, FBI and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our contractors/inheritance beneficiary to receive their funds without any interference. the ATM Master Express Credit Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.
Reconfirm the following information to us for security reasons:
1)YOUR FULL NAMES
2)YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.
3)YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER
4)YOUR PROFESSION
Upon the receipt of this information we are going to credit your funds into the Master Express Credit Card or make a transfer to you by bank transfer and send a scanned copy of the card to you before we will proceed to despatch the card directly to your nominated mailing address.
So you absolutely have nothing to worry about as all we need is your prompt response and co-operation. Contact the ATM CARD department
Mr. Schaffer Bode
Email to contact : schafferbode@yahoo.com.hk
CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.
BEST REGARDS,
SCHAFFER BODE
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