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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "International Commercial Bank Ltd Accra Ghana" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <icb.ghana@blumail.org>
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:11:34 +0100
Subject: Final transfer of your interest of $1.8M to your account
International Commercial Bank
Ghana Ltd,Makola shopping mall
Accra Ghana.
Email: icb.ghana@blumail.org
Attn:
It has come to our notice that your fund of $1.8M which is an interest from your principal sum has not
been transferred to your account yet,kindly get back to me immediately you receive this mail to indicate your readiness to receive this fund so that
we will start the process to make final transfer of the fund to your account without any further delay.
You are therefore advised to send to me your full names and home address,telephone numbers and passport or drivers
license copy and your account details where the fund will be transferred to, i will use these information to procure the
legal back up documents to avoid any transfer interception as soon as the transfer is made.
As soon as i receive the requested information from you i will proceed to getting the legal documents immediately and
will as well process for the transfer.
I await your urgent response as soon as you receive this mail.
Regards,
Dr.Frank Addo
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Anti-fraud resources:
