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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "williamsmithxx@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. George Thomas Junior" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsmithxx@live.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:40:08 +0530
Subject: FUNDS TRANSFER NOTIFICATION
Chairman Committee on Foreign Contract and
Inheritance Fund Payment department.
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
The U.S.A Government, World Bank and United Nations Organization Official
Has Approved To Pay Your Contract/Inheritance Fund Payment. This Decision
Was Made Last Week With This Development, A Woman By Name (MS. MARGARET
RABENHORST)From Ohio United State Of America) Came To Our Office With An
Application Stating That You Gave Her The Power Of Attorney To Be The
Beneficiary Of Your Outstanding Contract/Inheritance Funds.
She Made Us To Believe That You Are Dead And That She Is Your Next Of Kin.
We Got Your Email Address And Decided To Send An Email Through This Address
Hoping To Find Out If You Are Dead Or Alive And To Find Out If You At Any
Time Gave This Woman The Power Of Attorney To Represent You.Please Let Us
Know Also If You Are Aware That We Are Almost Ready To Transfer Payment Of
$45 Million, Used Of Your Outstanding Funds To Her Nominated Bank Account
Stated Below:
BANK NAME: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK.
ADDRESS: 1723 PALMDALE BULV.
PALMDALE CA. 93550
ACCT #: 3573813158
ROUT #: 322271627
SWIFT CODE #: WMSBUS66
BENEFICIARY: MS. MARGARET RABENHORST
If You Are Not Aware Of the Above Instruction, Do Respond To This Email
Immediately By Contacting the Chairman of the International Remittance
Department with your personal details including a Scan Copy of your
international Passport or your Driver License.
MR. WILLIAM SMITH
Email Address: williamsmithxx@live.com
For Immediate Process/Transfer of Your Funds You Are Required To Send To
Him An Email Immediately.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. George Thomas Junior.
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Anti-fraud resources:
