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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Tom Mark." <marktom@live.com>
Reply-To: tommark060@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 16:17:13 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Kindly Re-confirm This To Me.
Kindly Re-confirm This To Me.
The sum of $3.2 million out of your over due total sum has been approved
for payment through ATM cash card system after all attempts to pay you
through bank, diplomatic and courier failed. The approved sum will be
programmed into the ATM cash card and dispatched to your address. We have
made several attempts to contact you and this is the 3rd and perhaps the
last email to you in respect to this matter. Meanwhile we received a power
of attorney from one JOHN GRIMLEY from USA purportedly issued by you
asking us to change the fund beneficiary to his name hence we are seeking
for your confirmation.
Kindly Re-confirm this to me.
(1) Your Full Names:-
(2) Address:-
(3) Your Phone Numbers:-
Yours In Service,
Mr Tom Mark.
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Anti-fraud resources:
