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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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.
- nebro.foreign_operation@yahoo.dk (Yahoo, Denmark; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- will proceed to you from north carolina .( nebro.foreign_operation@yahoo.dk or nebro.foreign_operation@mail.ru) mrs monica smith please (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: apex office <officefile922@aowic.com.cn>
Reply-To: nebro.foreign_operation@mail.ru
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:02:59 +0800
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA NIGERIA
ZARIA STREET, GARKI
P.M.B. 0187, GARKI, ABUJA
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
UNITED BANKFOR AFRICA (UBA)
HELLO SIR,
Try to send the document today because some people are trying to steal YOUR fund in the hands of the NEBRO SEA AND AIR courier service as I was told by Mrs Monica Smith the SEA AND AIR DIRECTOR FOR FOREIGN OPERATION TODAY.
Email her for more information about what happen. Infact your boxes are in NORTH CAROLINA now as directed by the man who claims to be the owner.
But the man failed when they ask him for proof of ownership certificate and they gave him my phone and he call me and I told him to send me his email were to send the court paper and I find out that it was not your email.
This is her email bellow so that she can explain to you what happen if possible they will proceed to you from NORTH CAROLINA .( nebro.foreign_operation@yahoo.dk or nebro.foreign_operation@mail.ru)
MRS MONICA SMITH
Please email her not to hand over the boxes to the man in NORTH CAROLINA
DIRECTOR CASH PROCESSING UNIT
UNITED BANK OF AFRICA [UBA]
234 80 334 83625
REV JOHN COKER
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Anti-fraud resources:
