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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024097308 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "WORLD BANK ORGANISATION" <info@worldbank.com>
Reply-To: <customercareunit.b.of.england@secretarias.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:02:52 +0100
Subject: NOTIFICATION FROM WORLD BANK ORGANISATION
Attention,
We wish to notify you that your Inheritance funds worth Ten Million US DOLLARS (US$10,000,000.00) are now under the care of the BANK OF ENGLAND.
For immediate transfer of your fund you are now advice to send your name, address, phone number, occupation and next of kin to the customer care unite of the BANK OF ENGLAND.
Head of customer care unit;
Name: Sir Angelo Silver
Telephone number: +44 702 4097 308
Fax: 086 641 1223
Email: customercareunit.b.of.england@secretarias.com
Signed;
Secretary
WORLD BANK ORGANISATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
