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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. BEN.SBERNANKE" <off------432178@att.net>
Reply-To: mr.ben.s.bernanke121@w.cn
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 16:19:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD NEW YORK.
BANKÂ FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
ADDRESS: 33 LIBERTY STREET, Â
NEW YORK, N.Y 10038.
            Â
CONTRACT FUND CREDIT FROM BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD NEW YORK.
ATTN: FUND BENEFICIARY,
Â
WE RECEIVED A PAYMENT CREDIT INSTRUCTION FROM THEÂ FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH YOUR FULL INHERITANCE FUND OF US$10.500.000.00 MILLION (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES AMERICAN DOLLARS) ONLY. FROM THE NIGERIAN RESERVE ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK
Â
HOWEVER, YOU SHALL REQUIRE PROVIDING THE FOLLOWINGS DETAILS BELOW WHERE YOU WANT YOU’RE FUND TO BE TRANSFERRED. Â
Â
(1). YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS:
(2). YOUR CONFIDENTIAL TELL, CELL AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASIER AND FASTER COMMUNICATION: Â
(3). YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRESS: Â
(4). YOUR A/C NAME AND NUMBERS:Â Â Â
(5). YOURÂ SWIFT CODE /Â ROUTING NUMBERS:
(6). OCCUPATION / MARITAL STATUS:
(7). I.D CARD/INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT COPY:
Â
BE INFORMED THAT TRANSFER WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY WE HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION. ONCE MORE, BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD WILL NOT HESITATE TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 24HOURS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FUND RELEASE ORDER REGULATIONS.
Â
YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED TO ENABLE US COMMENCE FOR THE TRANSFER.
 Â
THANKS FOR BANKING WITHÂ FEDERAL RESERVE BANK WHILE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING YOU BETTER.
Â
                      CONGRATULATION TO YOUR INHERITANCE FUND
Â
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
MR. BEN S. BERNANKE (CHAIRMAN)
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK NEW YORK
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Anti-fraud resources:
