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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- femifelix@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATIONS" <info@world.net>
Reply-To: femifelix@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:37:01 -0500
Subject: US$740,000 Compensation
The UNITED NATIONS which plays a leading role in coordinating emergency
relief efforts across the globe has agreed to compensate some people that had
an unfinished transaction or international Fund transfer that failed due to
Government problem or fraud victims and the less priviledges.The sum of US
$740,000 was issued to each of you .We found your name in our list as one of
the beneficiary and that is why we are contacting you through this medium.
This has been agreed upon and have been signed.
You are advised now to contact Mr Femi Felix Overall Director of
Intercontinental Bank Plc via his Email Address;femifelix@hotmail.co.uk,as he
is our representative who is in charge of disposing the bank draft to you.
You are to Send the information below to Dr Femi Felix via his email address
for the immediate delivery of your Compensation bank Draft to you.
Full Names (Surname First).....
Current Address................
Country........................
Telephone #....................
Age............................
Contact him immediately with the requested information above for your
International Bank Draft of US $740,000.00 USD.
Please note that late response is not accepted, misconduct and boycott to
instructions leads to fund termination
Hope you invest this Money Wisely and profitably.
Best Regards,
Gen Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary General (UNITED NATIONS)
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Anti-fraud resources:
