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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 us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. JULIA BAIRD" <shrinkpackphils@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: foreignpayfund@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:22:46 -0800 (PST)
Subject: SEASONS GREETINGS
SEASONS GREETINGS TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE ARE WRITING
TO INFORM YOU THAT THE LAST FEE WHICH YOU PAID IN AS REGARDS YOUR $15.5
MILLION US DOLLARS LONG OVER DUE PAYMENT HAVE BEEN PICKED UP CORRECTLY
AND YOUR FUND IS READY TO BE RELEASED
TO YOU.
HOWEVER FOR
YOUR SECURITY CHECK AND SAFETY REASONS DUE TO CRIMINALS AND HACKERS OVER
THE INTERNET WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND DIRECTED TO INFORM YOU THE
BENEFACTOR TO PLEASE RE-CONFIRM YOUR CORRECT/ EXACT BANKING DETAILS
WHICH YOU WISH YOUR FUND TRANSFERRED INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVE SEASON
SO THAT THERE ARE NO MISTAKES OR MISPLACEMENT OF TRANSFER AT THE POINT
AND TIME OF YOUR FUND TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO YOU AS WE WAIT TO RECEIVE THE RE-CONFIRMATION OF YOUR CORRECT
BANKING DETAILS TO ENABLE US EFFECT YOUR TRANSFER CORRECTLY.
FROM ALL OF US HERE TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW-YEAR IN ADVANCE.
RESPOND BACK IMMEDIATELY.
MRS. JULIA BAIRD.
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
Legalization & Attestation.
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Anti-fraud resources:
