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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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.
- 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.
- mrs_mwms@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "(DM) Ministry of Finance" <jubrilbello00a2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs_mwms@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 11:57:04 +0100
Subject: From Debt Management department (DM)
Attn: The Fund Beneficiary
This is to inform you that the process of your inheritance/contract
fund which was approved to pay by ATM VISA CARD has been concluded
today, please kindly contact the delivery agent office because your
ATM card has been handed over to them to further the delivery to your
residential/office address as preferred by you.
Note you are required to provide the following information that will
enable them to release the pin code for cash collection from any ATM
AUTOMATIC MACHINE around you in the world;
1. BENEFICIARY FULL NAME …………………………………………………………………..
2. HOME/OFFICE ADDRESS:…………………………………………………………
3. TEL:……………………………………………….CELL……………………………………
4. YOUR TOTAL INHERITANCE/CONTRACT AMOUNT:…………………………………………………………
5. A COPY OF YOUR INT’L PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE
The above requirements are the only information needed to accredit the
release of your pin code, therefore, forward all the above details to:
Mrs.Mary Williams, Tel: Tell:234-7084383825 (Email:
mrs_mwms@yahoo.co.jp)
Hoping for your understanding and urgent compliance.
Regards
Dr. Abraham Nwankwu
Debt Management department (DM)
Ministry of Finance Federal Republic of Nigeria
Tel:
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Anti-fraud resources:
