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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:
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dormant account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Charles Stanley" <c.stanleyesq@lawyer.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: charlesstanley000101@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2011 12:51:08 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FROM TE DESK OF CHARLES STANLEY
Dear Fund Trustee,
Sequel to my previous email regarding the Graham Robert trust fund
amounting to the sum of (155,600,000 USD) willed to you for the purpose of
charity.
I write to remind you on the need to conclude the transfer process of
Graham Robert trust fund to your online account latest 11/11/2011 as was
previously stated. You are to note that if by the mentioned date you are
not able to complete the transfer procedures by the transferring bank to
your designated account, you will be disqualified from the Graham Robert
trust fund on ground of incompetence in line with the Graham Robert stated
(WILL).
You are to note that the transferring bank will not complete the transfer
of Graham Robert fund to your account unless the account setup charges is
paid in line with the stated charge for the online account setup. The
bank made it clear that the Graham Robert dormant account must be
activated and to get it done, you have to pay the activation charge as
well as the initial deposit that will remain in your account.
Note that I have tried a lot on my part to make sure this transaction is
successful but you seem to be causing delay in completing the transaction.
If I really had the money to complete this transaction, I would have long
paid to complete the transactions. I advise that you go ahead and complete
the payment latest 11/11/2011 in line with the deadline date given.
I await your response soonest.
Charles Stanley
+4407035956141
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Anti-fraud resources:
