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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:
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- accesstransferdept@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Access Bank" <paymastergeneral@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <Accesstransferdept@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:21:14 -0000
Subject: Urgent notification
Access Bank (Ghana) Limited
9, La Tebu Crescent
Off Giffard Road
P.O. Box CT 1967
East Cantonments
Accra, Ghana.
www.accessbankplc.com
Our Ref: AIB/560a/gh/011
Good Day,
Re: Approval and Payment Authorization for US$ 10 Million on 'Payment Approval No:.AIB/0371/216/011gh'
As a result of the high-powered investigation ordered by the African Union Chairman (President Bingu Wa Mutharika of Malawi) on the activities of the West African Bank and other Government Institutions as it concerns foreign payments.
Be advised that you are contacted based on one of the cases that has long been overdue for payment. In one of the files that was investigated, all available evidence shows that the you have not received any part of the payment which is held up at the Access Bank Ghana Plc. This office has completed investigations and established reasons for non-transfer of the approved payment. Some officers have made it practically impossible for you to get paid by distorting original information's in the records.
Based on our investigations preliminary report to the office of the presidency which exposed an attempt to divert your funds to an unknown ghost account, the president have ordered the immediate remittance of your payment to your bank account from the Access Bank Ghana Ltd were the fund was lodged.
Be informed that you have the options to choose how you want to receive your payment.
1. Telegraphic Transfer (Swift Wire)
2. Cash Delivery (By Diplomatic Courier Service)
3. ATM Card
With effect of this notice, you are further advice to re-confirm the below personal information to this office for the payment verification.
`
Name:
Address:
Telephone / Mobile Number:
Reply to (Accesstransferdept@hotmail.com)
Yours faithfully
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Anti-fraud resources:
