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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "trasnferdirector@fastservice.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "trasnferdirector@fastservice.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM THE DESK OF MR. ROYSON WATT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <trasnferdirector@fastservice.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 21:17:19 +0100
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR. ROYSON WATT KINGDOM OF THAILAND.
FROM THE DESK OF MR. ROYSON WATT
BRANCH OPERATIONAL MANAGER SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK SCB THAILAND.
Email: trasnferdirector@fastservice.com
Good day.
I am MR Royson Watt, the newly appointed Branch Operational Manager Bank (SBC) CASH-OFFICE Branch, Kingdom of Thailand.
I would like to present you as the beneficiary to our deceased client to our bank Lech Kaczynski (a citizen of Poland) who died in a plane crash in Russia April 10 2010. Who made some deposits of $12.700, 000 (Twelve Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with my ban Bangkok Bank Thailand.
Do visit this (copy and past it on your browser) link below to confirm my information's to you at: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Polish_President_Lech_Kaczy%C5%84ski_dies_as_his_plane_crashes_in_Russia
He died without any registered next of kin and as such there is an open beneficiary mandate to the funds.
I will appreciate your interest but not because I am been greedy but because the fund will be confiscated in the treasury bill of the nation after several months without any beneficiary attach to the funds.
Signify your interest by replying with a sincere motive which will enable me explain the comprehensive details on what we are to do for the funds to be wired into your account, before my meeting with you for the disbursement of the fund in the ratio of (60/40) 60% percent for me and 40% percent for you, I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible as to enable us expedite action.
I am awaiting your urgent and positive response if only you will not be greedy and via my confidential email address at: trasnferdirector@fastservice.com
Yours Sincerely.
MR. ROYSON WATT
MANAGER SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK SCB THAILAND
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Anti-fraud resources:
