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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- cimb.groupmalaysia@asia.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Nora Aziz" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2012 16:54:00 +0800
Subject: can i trust you
We write to officially inform you that we have your Certified Bank Draft here in our office to send to you as directed by the Bank management. We have been waiting for you for some time to come down here and pick up your Bank Draft of Four Million Dollars (4Million Dollars) but we did not hear from you till now, Well, we want you to know that we have deposited the Bank Draft with CIMB BANK MALAYSIA for Security reasons.
The Bank Draft was originated from the United Nations office. We have arranged with CIMB BANK Malaysia to make your payment to you on full clarifications and proper identification. Because the Bank Draft was getting to the expiring date. So You have to contact the CIMB BANK Malaysia with you full contact information's such as follows:
YOUR FULL NAME....................
YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS..........
YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER.........
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS...............
YOUR OCCUPATION...................
YOUR OFFICIAL AGE.................
A scanned copy of you international passport or drivers license is needed for proper identification to facilitate the release of your fund. However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your fund to you without father delays
CIMB Bank Malaysia
Contact Person: Mrs. Nora Aziz
E:mail (cimb.groupmalaysia@asia.com)
Contact us as soon as possible to quicken the process of your fund release before the Bank Draft gets expired. The United Nations (UK) mandated you to corresponded with them and must inform them on the progress and confirmation of your fund into your Account on the below information.
United Nations Agent:
Contact Person: Bright Moore,
Thank you
CIMB Remittance Dept
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Anti-fraud resources:
