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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.
- 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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 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.
- state.verificationdept@kimo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "STATE DISBURSEMENT COMMITTEE" <info@usa.com>
Reply-To: stateverification@kimo.com
Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:45:08 -0500
Subject: Outstanding Payment(Treat as urgent)
PAYMENT REF: USA/CON/INH/ATM-4097
CLAIMS FILE: REF: ATM-4097
The USA Government in bid to pay all outstanding funds for fiscal year 2013 has issued you with an ATM card worth $1,000,000.00 USD. Your Payment
Code: REF:ATM 4097 (Take Note). For claims provide the below info;
1) FULL NAME:
2) HOME ADDRESS:
3) PHONE NUMBER:
4) OCCUPATION:
5) SCAN COPY OF ID CARD/PROOF (IF ANY)
6) SEX: / AGE:
The above information are to be forwarded to the verification officer, via email on: state.verificationdept@kimo.com Note, you will be required to forward to this office via email a scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport >> for proper verification and authentication. Also this will be needed to conclude this proceedings and remember to put this as your subject: REF:ATM 4097. For purpose of clarification and authenticity, you will be given valid means of Identification once you provide the above information. We await your
prompt response. Mr. Gary Wilfred
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Anti-fraud resources:
