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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ms.caddellbaxter@skymail.mn>
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:09:42 +0100
Subject: Compensation Ref Number: UN277360NG
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
United Nation Office (UNFICYP)
Dear Beneficiary,
Compensation Ref Number: UN277360NG
This is to officially notify you that, you have been selected as one of the
few beneficiary of United Nations Compensation by random Email Search
System(ESS). Your email id was lucky to be picked among the ten thousand
emails that was selected worldwide by UN, you have been compensated with
$200,000.00USD by United Nations as a sign to help the less privilege
worldwide. to enmark the suecessful United Nations Anniversary Celebration we
have decided to give Ten thousand people around the world compensation funds
as a sign of reducing the global economy and financial meltdown around the
world.
Been among the lucky beneficiary of this compensation donation exercise you
are hereby instructed to reconfirm this information's below
for immediate claims
CLEARANCE FORM:
Beneficiary Full Name:
Contact Address:
Current Occupation:
Country:
Age:
Sex:
Direct Telephone Number:
Mobile Number:
Next Of Kin:
Compensation Amount:
Any Valid Identity Card/National Passport:
Note: This clearance form is to be submitted to our affilated financial body
Zenith Bank Plc, contact Zenith Bank Plc with the
information's below for urgent transferring of your Compensation funds of
$200,000.00USD.
Zenith Bank Plc
Contact Person: Ms. Caddell Baxter
Email: ms.caddellbaxter@skymail.mn
Telephone: (+234) 80 39090550
Once again congratulation's from the entier staff's and member's of the
United Nation Organisation(UN).
Sincerly
Mrs. Terrie Edwards
(UN Compensation Officer)
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Anti-fraud resources:
