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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:
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- "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)
- "westfinance.desk@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: WEST AFRICA REPARATION COMMITTEE <vbello@altec.com.ar>
Reply-To: Verification desk <westfinance.desk@live.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:19:50 -0300 (GMT-03:00)
Subject: UNPAID BENEFICIARY FUNDS; WEST AFRICA REPARATION COMMITTEE
WEST AFRICA REPARATION COMMITTEE,
It is obvious that you have not received your funds which is to the tune of $3.800,000.00(Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand US DOLLARS) due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reasons and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.
ATM Card: We will be issuing you a custom pin based ATM card which you will use to withdraw up to $10,000USD per day from any ATM machine that has the Master Card Logo on it.
Your payment would be sent to you via any of your preferred option and would be mailed to you via UPS. Because we have signed a contract with UPS which should expire by the 3rd of JANUARY 2011 you will only need to pay $80USD instead of $380USD saving you $300! So if you pay before JANUARY 4th you save $300
Note: Everything has been taken care of by the Federal Government including taxes, custom paper and clearance duty so all you will ever need to pay is $80 for the insurance of your parcel.
To effect the release of your fund,you are advised to contact this office and with the following information:
YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR ADDRESS:
CITY:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
Home/Cell Phone:
Preferred Payment Method (ATM/Cashier Check):
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.MERELYN HAYES
Email:westfinance.desk@live.com
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