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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "airportshuttlekeeper@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <airportshuttlekeeper@live.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:34:17 -0700
Subject: YOUR ATM IS IN OUR CUSTODY
LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS
Airport Shuttle Keeper
Goodmorning
Sorry for delay in this message on Friday we was checking over some files in the office and we discover your ATM (I think it is a winning fund) I believe you must remember this fund (ATM) but do not have idea where it was hold up.
After check over the ATM and we discover a total sum of $1,500,000.00 on it after running it so we have decided to delivered it to you.
We need you to reconfirm your address if show as it is in the eveloped on the delivery.
If you want it to be delivered it will cost you just $360 which was the charges for the insurance and delivery of the ATM and your fund is save with our securities service have in mind
Below is the payment information, payment should be made via money gram or western union and also send us your address as well for the delivery
NAME...... CHARLEEN WINTER
CITY...... REDLANDS
STATE..... CA
COUNTRY...USA
ZIP CODE.....95240
Amount: $360
The ATM was stop at LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS
THIS MAIL IS NOT A SPAM OR SCAM MESSAGE
WE DELIVERED TOMORROW IF WE RECEIVED REPLY FROM YOU
I HAVE INCLUDED MY NAME AND MY SSN FOR YOU TO KNOW I AM FOR REAL AND NOT A SCAM IF YOU NEEDED TO VERIFY ME SO STOP DEALING WITH ANY BODY IF YOU HAVE SOME SCAMMER DEALING WITH
CHARLES SWIDER
Supervisor Manager
MY SSN NUMBER : 016-38-1497
Tel: (507) 721-3054
airportshuttlekeeper@live.com
For: Airport Shuttle Keeper
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Anti-fraud resources:
