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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Cindy Richard" <kenhicks23@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: paymentunit93@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:40:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: LAST SECURITY CHECK OF 2011
Abuja Corporate Office: A1 AMAC Plaza ,
Zone 3 Wuse, Abuja.
GOOD DAY TO YOU AND HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
WE
ARE WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT MOMENTS AFTER THE WORLD BANK SUMMIT THIS
MORNING IT WAS CONCLUDED AND CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE THE YEAR IS FAST
COMING TO AN END YOUR OVER DUE OWED FUND OF $15.5 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH
IS READY BE RELEASED TO YOU NOW WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.
HOWEVER FOR YOUR SECURITY CHECK AND SAFETY REASONS DUE TO CRIMINALS
AND HACKERS OVER THE INTERNET WE HAVE BEEN ASKED, ADVISED AND DIRECTED
TO INFORM YOU THE BENEFACTOR TO PLEASE RE-CONFIRM YOUR CORRECT/ EXACT
BANKING DETAILS WHICH YOU WISH YOUR FUND TRANSFERRED INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL
FESTIVE SEASON SO THAT THERE ARE NO MISTAKES OR MISPLACEMENT OF
TRANSFER AT THE POINT AND TIME OF YOUR FUND TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT OF
YOUR CHOICE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WE WAIT TO RECEIVE THE RE-CONFIRMATION OF
YOUR CORRECT BANKING DETAILS TO ENABLE US EFFECT YOUR TRANSFER
CORRECTLY.
FROM ALL OF US HERE TO YOU WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW-YEAR IN ADVANCE.
RESPOND BACK IMMEDIATELY.
MRS. CINDY RICHARD.
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Anti-fraud resources:
