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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- governoroffice1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officeorgat@blumail.org>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:16:55 -0400
Subject: FROM EXCHANGE CONTROL DEPARTMENT
THE CENTRAL BANK OF SOUTHEN AFRICA
EXCHANGE CONTROL DEPARTMENT
GOVERNOR SARB & GENERAL MANAGER
MS.GILL MARCUS
TELE/FAX: +27 11 507-5287
DIRECT EMAIL ADDRESS GOVERNOROFFICE1@gmail.com
ATTENTION
WE WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT IN LINE WITH THE APPLICATION WE HAVE IN THE BANK AND ALSO IN CONSONANCE WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA MONETARY POLICIES AS WAS RELEASED ON THIS APRIL.
THE PARTICULARS OF ALL FUND BENEFICIARIES ‘STILL OUTSTANDING IN THE DEBT SETTLEMENT SCHEME HAS BEEN APPROVED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF THEIR MONEY.
YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN ACCREDITED AND LISTED IN THE SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT.
CONSEQUENTLY, YOU HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARY’S ON THE SCHEDULED LIST CONSEQUENTLY YOU ARE REQUESTED TO RE-CONFIRM AND FORWARD TO MY DESK IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION’S:
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESSES
3. YOUR PERSONAL AND REACHABLE PHONE NUMBER:
4 .YOUR AGE
5. OCCUPATIONS
6 .HOW DO YOU WANT THIS TRANSFER?
WE RESORTED TO THIS METHOD TO AVOID FURTHER DELAY, TOO MUCH/EXCESSIVE COST AND THE DEMANDS CONNECTED IN THIS TRANSFER BY FOREIGN AFFILIATES.
WE ARE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCES THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED YOU.
CALL ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS LATTER OR URGENTLY WRITE ME AN EMAIL DIRECT TELEPHONE +27 11 507-5287
DIRECT EMAIL ADDRESS GOVERNOROFFICE1@gmail.com
YOURS FAITHFULLY
ERNEST VAN DER MERWE FOR (GILL MARCUS)
GOVERNOR SARB & GENERAL MANAGER EXCHANGE
CONTROL DEPARTMENT
TEL/FAX: + 27 86 51 14 384
GOVERNOROFFICE1@gmail.com
CC: TREASURY DPT
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Anti-fraud resources:
