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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:
- "million british pounds" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Cherry Wealth <hearlson0711@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: eric_hangartner@yahoo.in
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:49:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER LCH "COMPENSATION NOTIFICATION"
DR. MRS CHERRY WEALTH.
PUBLIC RELATION: LONDON CLEARING HOUSE.
We just received this letter this morning from World Fund Discovery Management and Payment Bureau newly invented by the World Financial Service Authority United States Of America/United Kingdom.
This body was set up to discover an outstanding unpaid fund being owed Governments or Individuals all over the world through Contract Payment, Inheritance and Lottery Winning Prize Awards.
It will interest you to know that they were able to discover an outstanding-unpaid/unclaimed sum of money in favor of your E-Mail. This Funds was deposited under our custody and we have been mandated to pay you a total sum of 3.5 Million British Pounds transfer you as COMPENSATION within 7 Working days.
Note that a special payment arrangement has been made to deliver this fund to you through A Courier Agent who is currently on official delivery in United State of America.
You are hereby advised to urgently furnish this office with your detailed information to enable us open up communication with you regarding the release of your fund immediately.
The information required from you to enable us process your payments are as follows;
Preferred mode of payment:
1. Bank Telegraphic Wire Transfer
2. Courier System of Payment (International Certified Bank Draft)
3. On-line Bank payment.
State your selected mode here....................
For option 1. [Bank Telegraphic Wire Transfer], Provide you’re banking details below;
Bank Name…………………. A/C Name....................................
A/C Number....................................... Swift Code...
Branch...........................................
Direct cell phone number..................
For option 2. [Courier System of Payment], Provide your full home/office address below;
Receiver Name...........................................Address...............................................
Postal Code..............................................City..................................................
State/Province............................................Country..............................................
Direct cell phone number..................
You are advised to contact us immediately with the above requested information for further details.
Thanks.
Yours Truly,
Dr. Mrs. Cherry Wealth.
Public Relation: London Clearing House
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