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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mark Harry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <customers.alertzenith@live.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 17:52:35 +0100
Subject: ATM/ONLINE TRANSFER
Dear Friend
My name is Mark Harry, I work with Zenith Bank , i have a genuine business proposition which will advance our financial status . I will not give full details of this transaction at the moment unless I receive your response and declaration of interest.
Let me give you a little insight towards my intention. It's for you to receive an ATM MasterCard in your Name and have access to draw funds daily with it through the zenith online POS Channels. There is a secret account which belongs to a top Nigerian politician who is presently serving jail terms in United Kingdom. All I intend to do is to configure an ATM MasterCard to the account thereby giving you access to draw fund from the account in your country and also to make transfer online. This will be successful once I edit the said account with your full details,
Once edited, I will direct you further, Meanwhile if you're willing to work this out with me forward the under listed details.
Your Full Name
Address
Age
Occupation
Tel Number
ID
I will use the information to edit the said account replacing the old details with yours then configuration of ATM MasterCard will be processed following my application directives. This account in question is a secret account operated by the jailed politician. None is aware of the existence of this account except his account officer.
If you respond I will give you further details.
Regards
Mark Harry
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Anti-fraud resources:
