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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- +447031889627 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- sherri.annraymond@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: FROM THE DESK OF MRS <info.aatmweb@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: sherri.annraymond@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:07:48 +0200
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ALEXANDRA GARCIA
FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ALEXANDRA GARCIA
DIRECTOR,FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,
FSL BANK INTERNATIONAL
John Smith Drive,
Cowley, Oxford. OX4 2JY
UNITED KINGDOM
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 pin code through the Digitalized
Payment System. We have decided to pay your funds without any requested fee
but through (ATM Master Express Credit Card) This arrangement was
initiated/constituted by the World Bank and Paris Club, due to fraudulent
activities going on within the African Region.
The World Bank 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 and send a scanned copy of the card to
you before we will proceed to despatch the card directly to your nominated
mailing addresss.So you absolutely have nothing to worry about as all we
need is your prompt response and co-operation.
Contact the ATM CARD department
Mrs. Sherri Ann Raymond
Email to contact : sherri.annraymond@gmail.com
TEL:+447031889627
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Anti-fraud resources:
