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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447045748784 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Cole Hodson <ahmedfeiz313@gmail.com>
Reply-To: united_nations@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 12:56:54 -0700
Subject: Call Me Immediately +447045748784
Call Me Immediately +447045748784
Attn:
In regards to your fund transfer, the UNITED NATIONS has approved the total
sum of US$4.5M on your behalf for the second quarter of this 2011 fiscal
year to enable us concluded this final stage of your transfer before the
10th of June 2011. Your payment approval is made under the auspices of the
world bank team and we intend to successfully complete your fund transfer
without any hitch. Also be informed that the board has met today and endorse
the transfer, the process has began, as this decisions has been placed with
all the top government officials involved on the transfer including the bank
directors.
You have to note carefully that the contents of the article of law
established under the UN transfer/remittance of page 67, cap 10 under
paragraph 6, which state clearly that under no circumstance will a huge
amount above $1m be remitted to overseas account without UNAB. And such fund
will be disbursed into UN account as seize fund. Therefore the bank board
and other top officials are demanding for these United Nations Assessment
Bonds (UNAB) belonging to our client which is you otherwise there will be a
problem; meanwhile the organization are using this urgent medium to advise
you to provide your ,Tel/Fax numbers for more details. Be rest assured that
our appointment to handle and take care of the movement of the fund will not
be in vain as we are giving you 100% guarantee to deliver the work as soon
as possible.
Thanks
Mr. Cole Hodson
Charmin Planning Committee.
+447045748784
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Anti-fraud resources:
