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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:
- "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)
- "chk@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Steve Green" <noreply@ftp.un.org>
Reply-To: chk@mail.bg
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:18:42 +0300
Subject: UN Contract/Inheritance
UNITED NATIONS
DEPARTMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
AND SECURITY COMMITTEE
Room, S-2500; United Nation Plaza New York U.S.A.
Attn: Sir/Madam,
We wish to inform you that Contract/Inheritance Payment of Ten Million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars with the Hong Kong Gov. and UN
security committee has been now release for immediate payment into your
bank account and your new release code is 631210. You are therefore advice
to contact the paymaster of Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited via Telephone:
(852) 8191 4628 or Email: chk@mail.bg to enable him pay you as soon as
possible.
For: United Nation.
Steve Green,
UN, Agent. United States. Tele: + 1 713 893 7438
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Anti-fraud resources:
