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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:
- "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- debtmanagementoffice2009@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: VERY IMPORTANT YOUR ATM WILL BE DESPATCH TODAY AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU <winddancer129.1@verizon.net>
Reply-To: debtmanagementoffice2009@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 02:01:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: SUBJECT: MR KELLER IS HERE TO PICK UP YOUR ATM CARD PLEASE CONFIRM IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING THE FINANCE MINISTER OF NIGERIA VIA TELEPHONE NUMBER 234-8021206948
FROM OFFICE THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
THE DESK OF: MR PETER AMANGBO
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
Please be informed that we received one Mr. John Keller who is said to be your Business
Manager from Florida USA yesterday at the vice president office in Nigeria.
He made a requested that you directed him to pick up your ATM MASTER CARD with the PIN CODE for full ACTIVATION immediately.
As soon as we get confirmations from you the ATM CARD will be activated and handed over to him with the PIN CODE.
Note: your Master Card has US$10.million loaded into it on the Platinum rated class, which means you can withdraw up to US$40,000 daily and make purchase of more than US$500.000 daily through your Platinum rated Master card.
If you have any objection for the ATM card not to be collect by Mr. Keller let me know
Immediately by calling the debt management director of the federal government of Nigeria DR. MAGNUS WILFRED on DIRECT PHONE: 234-80212-06948 or by E-mail. debtmanagementoffice2009@gmail.com
Waiting to hear from you immediately and call debt management director of the federal government of Nigeria on DIRECT PHONE: 234-80212-06948 OR Email -
debtmanagementoffice2009@gmail.com
BEST REGARDS
MR PETER AMANGBO
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
MAKE SURE YOU RECOMFIRM YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER IMMEDAITELY YOU GET THIS MAIL TODAY AND CALL ME FOR YOU OWN GOOD , IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE SEND THIS ATM CARD TODAY
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Anti-fraud resources:
