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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- mrsgraciouswilliams@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mrsgraciouswilliams@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:07:50 +0530
Subject: Accredited ATM Card
Senate House
---DEPUIS 1725---
276xc Committee On foreign Payment,
Resolution Panel On Contract Payment.
Ikoyi-Lagos Nigeria
Your Ref #:ATM/LAG/NG
Phone :+234 805143536 (West Africa Office)
E-mail: mrsgraciouswilliams@gmail.com
Accredited ATM Card(231) awarded for contract payment of $6.8MILLION
USD.with Card Number; 652805001110004432 has been allocated in your favor,
contact Mrs. Gracious Williams (mrsgraciouswilliams@gmail.com)with the
following
information's;
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE:NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
Note:The only fees you have to pay to the courier company is the delivery
fee of US$100, Find below this mail is the payment information you are to
follow.
Have a wonderful time. Please call us anytime you need any assistance.
Best Regards,
Senator David A.B.Mark
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Anti-fraud resources:
