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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:
- "the required fees" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remmittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARCLAYS BANK GHANA" <pauloforibarclaysghana@gmail.com>
Reply-To: pauloforibarclaysghana@w.cn
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:38:45 -0100
Subject: YOUR FUNDS
The management has directed me to proceed with the transfer of your funds to
your designated account you will provide. So i implore you to provide the
neccessary banking details and the fees which is required of you to activate
your dormant account and the papers covering the transactions.
All neccessary measures as been put in place as regard the transfer of your
$15million United State Dollars to your designated Offshore Account.
The Remmittance Department will require the below details from.
Your Full Names:..............
Complete residential/office address:..............
passport copy/driver licence:...............
Your Offshore Account with Swift Code:.................
Office Number:/Fax number:......................
Cell number................
The Remmittance Depatrment will need this details in order to perfect your
transfer, you are also directed to pay $2.700 dollars being charges to
activate your dormant account for the Cost Of Transfer (COT). As soon as you
reach us with this details, we assure of the effect transfer of your funds
$15million in the next 48hours to your designated Offshore Account you will
provide any where in the World.
Please note that your dormant account with us is a temporary Escrow Account
solely set for the immediate transfer of your Funds thus you are advised to
act swiftly to activate the account with the required fees of $2.700.
THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PAYMENT THROUGH WESTERN UNION IS;
NAME: Mr. WILLIAM ADOTTEY
ADDRESS; Barclays Bank House, Accra Ghana
AMOUNT TO SEND: $2.700.00 (Two Thousand Seven Hundred United State Dollars)
After Payment has been made, send us the receipt of Payment via Email
Attachment to enable us act fast and get the Dormant Escrow Account Activated
and for the COT CODE from the Transfer Department on time.
Thanks for your Mutual Understanding.
Regards
Paul Ofori.
Remittance Department.
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Anti-fraud resources:
