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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:
- "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: Mrs Nancy Santos <nancysantos@live.com>
Reply-To: nancysantos233@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:46:51 +0700
Subject: RE
My Dear ,
This is to notify you of new order on the release of your fund. prior
to his proceeding anomaly. We have been mandated by President of
Federal Republic of Nigeria under the new Government of Good luck
Jonathan the New Elected resident on the Federal Republic of Nigeria
to make sure all our debtors received their long awaiting fund within
the next five working days from date.
But in your own case we found some complicity in your payment file
due to petition file by one Mr. Roy T Authur a Citizen From United
Kingdom but base in United States of America that he is your Lawyer
and you have hand over the ownership of your fund that is still
unclaimed to him.
So he now wants us to transfer your fund to his own account that is
stated below.
Bank of America
New York Branch
A/C: 0911667701
Swift Code: BA09
Beneficiary: Roy industries Ltd
But what made me to contact you to verify this claim is that, I asked
him to prove his claim by making available a written power of
attorney
duly signed by you and he could not, then I thought it will be wise to
contact you to alert you if you are aware of this development.
Meanwhile, we have decided to pay part payment of ten million united
states ($10m) only to our debtors in this first quarter of the year
the balance will be paid in the next three months from date.
Feel free to respond to this massage to enable us decide on what to
do, and furthermore forward your direct contact telephone and fax
number as you read this mail.
Yours Sincerely
Nancy Santos
sect to the President (FGN)
Disclaimer:
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Anti-fraud resources:
