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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 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)
- "bedfordjr.accountant@live.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: "Mr. Anderson Bedford Jr." <usbbankaccountant@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: bedfordjr.accountant@live.com
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2012 18:49:12 -0000
Subject: Greetings to you.
Attn:
Greetings to you.
I must say sorry for interfering into your privacy without seeking for
permission. It's because of urgency of this matter. My name is Mr.
Anderson Bedford Jr., A banker by Profession and Currently A Director of
Finance Auditing and Accounting Unit in UBS Bank Switzerland.
I have decided to contact you for a mutual beneficial transaction with
100% risk free. My search for a reputable and reliable person to help me
claim the sum of US$55.3 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, deposited in my
Bank. In April 2006, Lu Yunpeng, a multimillionaire and president of
Henan-based Yunpeng Cultural Development Co Ltd China moved some cash to
my bank from Europe.The fund arrived during the time Lu Yunpeng was been
tried for murder in China . As his account officer he instructed that I
should put a hold on the fund that was supposed to go to China pending on
the outcome of his trial.
In May 2006 he was sentenced to death and the fund remained unclaimed till
date. As his account officer I was aware that nobody knows about this fund
movement except his cousin who was also sentenced to death with him.
Please click this link for your own
perusal:http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200605/18/t20060518_7005764.shtml
I want to utilize this opportunity and make use of this fund by
transferring the money to you for investment in your country. I want us to
work as partners. Please reply back and tell me your opinion. You are my
first contact. I shall wait for days and if I do not hear from you, I
shall look for another person. Please keep confidential to yourself alone.
Thanks and best regards.
Mr. Anderson Bedford Jr.
bedfordjr.accountant@live.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
