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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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. MICHAEL CENA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un.nation.office@globomail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 14:58:50 -0600
Subject: MR. MICHAEL CENA
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS LODGINGS OF
U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT
1500 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20220
HELLO
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT TODAY AT THE FOREIGN ASSETS LODGINGS OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY WASHINGTON DC, WE RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS VIA CONSIGNMENT BOX FROM UNITED NATIONS (UN) ASSOCIATION OF LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM LIAISON OFFICE VALUED AT $8.5MILLION DOLLARS THIS EVENT WHICH WAS WITNESSED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) AND THE INTERPOL ENVOYS DEPLOYED TO LONDON BY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO MONITOR THE PROCEEDINGS CONFIRMED IT TO BE A FAIR JUDGMENT BY THE BUREAU AND THE INTERPOL AS THE OUTCOME OF THE EVENT WAS A PERFECT SOLUTION TO CURTAIL THE ACTIVITIES OF CON ARTIST AND SCAM GENERALLY AND IS ALSO A PERFECT END TO YOUR PAYMENT.
YOUR BENEFICIARY FUNDS THAT WAS ALLOTTED IS NOW BEEN DEPOSITED IN OUR PECUNIARY VAULT AT OUR PAYING BANK. THE PROCEED OF THESE EVENT WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE UNITED KINGDOM PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN, DEDICATED HIS TIME TO GUARANTEE SUCCESS TO IT DUE TO HIS FIGHT TO ERADICATE DECEPTION, CORRUPTIONS AND TERRORISM'S THAT HAS DEEPLY ROOTED IN GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE AND IT WAS ALSO AN ACHIEVEMENT FOR HIM TO MEET THE DEADLINE GIVEN AT THE G8 SUMMIT IN TOKYO TO CLEAR OUTSTANDING BENEFICIARY DEBTS AND LOTTERY WINING DEBTS. BEFORE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT YOU ARE TO RECONFIRM YOUR RESIDENCE ADDRESS AS WRITTEN BELOW FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT.
FULL NAME:
RESIDENCE ADDRESS / BANK ADDRESS:
CURRENT OCCUPATION:
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
ANY FORM OF PROVE OF IDENTIFICATION:
CURRENT AGE:
DO GET BACK TO US URGENTLY VIA EMAIL FOR FURTHER INQUIRE ON THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR RESIDENCE?
SINCERELY YOURS
MR. MICHAEL CENA
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Anti-fraud resources:
