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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:
- "mrjohnsonhills@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. Johnson Hills" <mr.johnsonhills@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrjohnsonhills@live.com
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:26:08 -0500
Subject: RE: YOUR ATM CARD READY GET BACK QUICKLY.
YOUR ATM CARD
Hello
I sent you this urgent message to inform you that your part payment of
US$5.5M has been approved since last Monday by our bank which will be
release to you through our escrow account with the paying bank
Intercontinental Bank Via ATM CARD. Therefore you are urgently advice
to send me the following information immediately you receive this
message so that all the proper arrangement and documentation will be
concluded as soon as possible for the release of your payment through
ATM CARD.
Full Name#
Cell/phone#
Complete Address#
Your ID for delivery identification#
Awaiting your immediate reply.
Best Regards,
Mr. Johnson Hills ( mrjohnsonhills@live.com )
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Anti-fraud resources:
