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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "PROF. DONALD BLACKMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donald.blackman@att.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 22:31:48 -0700
Subject: You are delaying the wire transfer.
SOUTHERN FT OFFSHORE PAYING CENTER,
HOUSTON TEXAS, USA
PRIVATE E-MAIL: donald.blackman@att.net
DIRECT E-MAIL: southernft@att.net
TEL: +1 (214)-269-5195 Ex 3120316
ATTENTION: BENEFACTOR.
I WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE RECEIVE AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FROM NIGERIA, INSTRUCTING US TO RELEASE YOUR FUND TO YOU IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR ON RECEIVING THIS EMAIL.
AFTER THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ON YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT FILE, I WANT TO INFORM YOUR THAT YOUR FUND IS READY FOR TRANSFER BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT THE FUND RELEASE FORM OF (07) TO ENABLE US HAVE A PROPER RECORD SO THAT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS INTACT, BUT I WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT IF YOU WILL ADHERE TO MY WORD YOU WILL GET YOU FUND INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DIRECTLY IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR YOUR LOCAL TIME WITHOUT DELAY BY TODAY.
BE INFORMED THAT YOUR FUND HAS BEEN PREPARED AND READY TO BE CREDITED INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT SO I URGE YOU TO FILL THE FORM ON TIME AND PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GET YOUR FUND I WANT YOU TO DO THE NEEDFUL URGENTLY. YOU CAN CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY ON THE ABOVE TELEPHONE: +1 (214)-269-5195 Ex 3120316 OR SEND ME ALL THE NEEDFUL TO MY DIRECT EMAIL donald.blackman@att.net. FURNISHING ME WITH YOUR INFORMATION ALSO BE INFORMED THAT THIS TRANSFER WILL TAKE US JUST LESS THAN 1 HOUR TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
YOURS TRULY,
PROF. DONALD BLACKMAN.
CHAIRMAN & FINANCIAL CONTROLLER.
CASH & LOGISTIC DEPARTMENT
(HEAD)
NOTE: DO NOT TELL ANYONE MY DEALINGS WITH YOU. THIS IS TO AVOID UNDUE INTERFERENCE BY UNKNOWN PEOPLE. THIS MUST BE KEPT SECRET.
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Anti-fraud resources:
