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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "international remittance 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.
- 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.
- +447035904649 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. WILLIAMS Graham" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marknagy@blumail.org>
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 16:08:09 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS!!
Attn: Beneficiary,
Following directive of the new elected British prime minister concerning foreign beneficiary's unpaid fund, be informed that our team of auditors has verified your payment file, and I was mandated to inform you that your inheritance/lottery award winning unpaid fund valued at US$1 M (One Million United State Dollars Only) has been approved for payment to you through the management of (Addax Bank BSC) United Kingdom.
Therefore you are directed to open communication with Dr. Mark Nagy, head of international remittance department, for immediate release of your fund. Also it is very important you re-confirm below listed information's to him for due process of your fund payment;
Contact Person: Dr. Mark Nagy
Email: marknagy@blumail.org
TEL: +447035904649
1) Your full names
2) Your full address
3) Country...
4) Phone number
5) Fax number
6) Your Occupation
7) Bank account details
8) Copy of your int'l passport or state driver's
Best regards,
Mr. WILLIAMS Graham
Information Officer
Debt Reconciliation Commission.
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Anti-fraud resources:
