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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:
- "transferred into your bank account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "RAND MERCHANT BANK (RMB)" <customerserviceverifiy@gmail.com>
Reply-To: randmerchant.bank@rocketmail.com
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2012 21:06:51 +0200
Subject: Greeting From Rand Merchant Bank
We are sending you this message directly from RAND MERCHANT BANK, based on
the present meeting with the president of South Africa (President Jacob
Zuma), This is to notify you that your Inheritance long over due funds has
been approved for Release by President Jacob Zuma, he has issued a letter
of authorization for the release and transferred of your Inheritance long
over due fund valued US$3.5 Million (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars Only) to be transferred into your bank account.
Note: the Letter of authorization has been signed by the President Jacob
Zuma yesterday for the release of your long over due fund, to enable us
proceed with the processing of your Inheritance long over due to be release
and transferred into your bank account, you are to reconfirm your personal
details such as listed below:
Your Full name.......................
Your Contact address..............
Your Telephone number...........
Your Fax number.....................
Your Age and Sex...................
Your Present Occupation.........
Above is the details needed from you to enable us proceed for the release
and transferred of your long over due fund. You will be advice by our
offshore paying bank in United States of America to present your banking
details upon the receipt of your email.
Best Regards
Mrs. Rosemary Moore
Telex and Legal Department Manager
RAND MERCHANT BANK (RMB)
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Anti-fraud resources:
