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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "fundequityfairnessj@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Caroline Edith-(Authorized wire transfer unit)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fundequityfairnessj1@ymail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:18:10 -0700
Subject: YOUR URGET ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY/Your Certificate of Merit Payment No -------- 103
Attn:Attn:Beneficiary,
Your new Payment Reference No. ----35460021
Allocation No---------- 674632
Password No -------- 339331
Pin Code No---------- 55674
Your Certificate of Merit Payment No -------- 103
Released Code No-------0763.
Your expected amount to be released is US$30,000,000.00. Fund will be
released in 5MILLION each wire transfer.
Note that your payment has to be programmed as soon as I hear from you
since the release will have to commenced immediately
As you can see the transfer detail codes are out which means absolute success.
So respond very urgently for payment to be programmed inline with the
approved time and Re-Confirm your correct bank account information to
avoid any fund wrong payment.
1) Your Full name............
2) Your direct telephone number.............
3) Your home/office address..............
4) Your age..................
5) Your occupation................
6) Your Banking Particulars...........
Thanks.
Mrs. Caroline Edith
(Authorized wire transfer unit)
Direct Email : fundequityfairnessj@ymail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
