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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- 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.
- +447031747766 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Phill Jackson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philljacson@femail.com.au>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:36:44 -0400
Subject: RE: YOUR FUND RELEASE VIA AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE CARD (ATM)
Dear Valued Customer.
RE: YOUR FUND RELEASE VIA AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE CARD (ATM).
Following the Recent Mandate by the Federal Reserve Bank NY, USA and Grate Britain Ministry of Finance on 2012 first quarter Foreign debts and Payments (CONTRACT AND INHERITANCE FUNDS), We the STANDARD CHARTERED BANK London United Kingdom has finally received a final approval and pay-out order from these two bodies over your debt with a payment approval notice RE: FRB-GBMF/STBANK/22XXY36/012 on your behalf. Meanwhile, your representatives have submitted your bank details to us where this fund is to be transferred into. As a matter of urgency and appropriateness, please kindly re-confirm the below submitted bank details as forwarded by your representatives to ensure its accuracy.
However the mode of payment is by AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE CARD (ATM), this is to discourage any form of extortion that will request you to pay for
various charges and COT charges which are UNLAWFUL. Kindly confirm the account information below to enable us expedite actions and effect payment to you as
scheduled. And your ATM Master Card sent to your postal address immediately with your funds fully loaded.
ACCOUNT DETAILS:
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK HONG KONG.
ACCOUNT NO: 410-1-097081-7.
BANK CODE: 003.
SWIFT CODE: SCBKL HK HH.
TELEX: 73230SCHNKHX.
BENEFICIARY: FU KWOK WING.
ADDRESS: FU KWOK WING (Private Address) Suite615.6/F,
BLK"E" Central MAnsion.527-9 Jaffe road Hong Kong.
FAX: 852-28380705 Or Tel/FAX: 852-93874218.
Confirm to me if he is your partner or did you permit him to act on your behalf for the release of your contract/inheritance fund part-payment
of US$2.5m (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) this is the major reason we have contacted you before i give final instruction for the issuance of your ATM MASTER CARD for onward dispatch.
Awaiting your urgent response.
Yours faithfully.
Mr. Phill Jackson.
Tel: +447031747766
Head ATM Department (Standard Chartered Bank London)
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