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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "stamp duty" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- beneficiary-beneft@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Beneficiary" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Beneficiary-beneft@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:03:25 +0100
Subject: Beneficiary-beneft@hotmail.com
UNITED STATE OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT.
(SWIFT ATM DEBIT CARD DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT)
Our Ref: DBN/IRS/CBX/011/011
(SWIFT DEBIT CARD CONSULTANT CE.)
IMMEDIATE ATM DEBIT CARD PAYMENT
FROM THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT Joseph Biden.
Attention: Our Esteemed Funds Beneficiary,
This is to bring to your notice that the payment of your long overdue fund which originated from United Kingdom
{ U.K / Africa Countries}such as contract/Inheritance/Lotto Winning fund Payment which has been on hold for many years now,
despite all our efforts that failed somehow due to the activities of some corrupt governmental and bank officials handling your transaction.
Please Kindly bear with us and accept the part payment compensation of US$3.5M which has been approved to your name until we finalize the modalities
on when your full inheritance funds will be paid to you in full that shall be made known to you shortly.
Note: Your $3.5M part payment were been loaded into an ATM VISA Debit Card,and has been registered with FedEx courier Express Delivery Services Ltd for immediate delivery to your doorstep. Please contact FeDex Courier Express Delivery Services comapny at the receipt of this notice with your personal information below where you want them to delivery your ATM card to you.
Contact the Head of Operations FedEx Courier Express Mr. Ramirez Daniel with the following information stated below for the immediate delivery.
your approved ATM Visa Debit Card to your designated address.You will only pay FEDEX Courier Delivery Company $120 only being the Stamp Duty Fee as
we have already paid on your behalf the cost of delivery.Do ask Mr.RAMIREZ DANIEL to direct you on how you will send the Stam Duty Fee to them.
.
FedEx Office - Nashville TN 2308 West End Avenue.
E-mail: Beneficiary-beneft@hotmail.com
NAME: RAMIREZ DANIEL
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Anti-fraud resources:
