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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Abdul Ghani" <yqxdnx3300@att.net>
Reply-To: dr.abdulghani21@superposta.com
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:11:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT VIA ATM VISA CARD
Attn: Beneficiary
This is to officially inform you about the present arrangement to offset you payment through (ATM Visa Card) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank and Paris Club, due to the inabilities of most beneficiaries to come up with the charges usually associated with Wire Transfer and the numerous cases of stoppage of beneficiaries fund during the transfer process.
The World Bank and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable the beneficiaries to receive their fund without any interference and in this process of payment, the beneficiaries are only left with the obligation to oversee the cost of delivering their ATM Cards to their various address.
Kindly Reconfirm the below information to us and make sure your address is writing correctly to avoid wrongful delivery of your ATM Visa Card to a wrong address.
1) YOUR FULL NAME:
2) YOUR RECEIVING ADDRESS:
3) YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER:
4) A VALID COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT/DRIVEN LICENSE:
Upon the receipt of your mailing address we shall proceed to dispatch your ATM Visa Card worth of $8,300,000.00 directly to your nominated address so you absolutely have nothing to worry about all we need is your Prompt Response and Co-operation by Gods Grace we will have a successful Transaction.
Your Urgent Response is highly anticipated!
Yours in service
Dr. Abdul Ghani
Deputy Governor
Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia)
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Anti-fraud resources:
