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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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.
- 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.
- macdonwilliams@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Zack Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <macdonwilliams@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:29:17 +0330
Subject: YOU ATM CASH CARD"
Hello Good Morning,
The sum of $1.2 million out of your over due total sum you won by lottery has been approved for payment through ATM cash card system after all attempts to get through to you failed. The approved sum will be programmed into ATM cash card and dispatched to your address. We made Several attempts to contact you and this is the 3rd time and the last email to you in respect of this matter. We received a power of attorney from one ROBIN GEORGE from USA, asking us to change the beneficiary to him stating that you have been sentence to life imprisonment hence we are seeking for your confirmation.He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the funds to him. Mr Robin George account co-ordinate is as stated below:-
Bank: Citizen bank
1121 N 205th St, Shoreline, Wa 98133.
Bank routing number: 125000024.
Bank account number: 5319678606.
Account Holders name: ROBIN GEORGE
We want to hear from you before we can make the transfer,and also to confirm if his claim of you being imprison is true or not. And provide your personal information's stated below to enable them process and transfer your contract funds successfully to you ok. if you are not the one who asked Mr Robin George to have the money transfer into his bank account above then Contact Our Payment Agent Mr Macdon Williams, Email: ( macdonwilliams@yahoo.com.ph )
YOUR FULL NAME_
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR OCCUPATION
YOUR AGE.
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER/FAX LINE (MOBILE).
PRIVATE E-MAIL:
Yours respectfully
Mr. Zack Moore
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