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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 us 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)
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- pinscodes@pisem.net (Pisem; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Micca Martins <miccamartins@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <miccamartins@ovi.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 22:08:39 +0000
Subject: Re: Your Payment by Union Bank of Switzerland
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Attention
This department Union Bank of Switzerland was instructed by United
Nations Compensation Commission(UNCC) and Debt Management Board to
notify you of Your payment of $4,000,000.00(Four Million US Dollars)only
as contract/Inheritance payment hold by African Union in Conjunction
with world bank.
The transfer effects immediately as you confirm the following.
(i) Re Confirm your full names, address and telephone numbers.
(ii) You have to contact Mr. Andrew Winter of HSBC Bank London on his
email.<pinscodes@pisem.net> for your TRANSFER CODE and Payment of your
funds Reach him immediately with your "payment reference # : 0054502012"
Funds will be confirm in your account within 74 hours once you complete
the Transfer code Form.
Regards,
Micca Martins
Union Bank of Switzerland
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Anti-fraud resources:
