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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:
- "await your urgent response" (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: "COLLINS MURRAY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cmfsa2013@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:58:30 +0100
Subject: TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND VIA SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK.
Date: 21st March, 2013.
RE: File Number: FSAIST/L-UK/US/0024/12.
Sorry that I am contacting you this late. It is because we have been making
arrangements for you to receive your fund through Reserve bank of South Africa
by electronic transfer since you reside in South Africa.
It may interest you to know that we have successfully concluded arrangements
with Reserve bank of South Africa to pay you via electronic transfer to your
designated bank account. This arrangement was made for easy transfer of your
fund to your bank account over there in South Africa.
We have already moved your payment file to the appropriate department of Reserve
bank of South Africa and they will contact you as soon as you indicate your
readiness for the transfer.
You are hereby advised to confirm your readiness to receive your fund via
Reserve bank of South Africa, so that we shall inform them to contact you for
the transfer.
We await your urgent response.
Regards,
Mr. Collins Murray.
HEAD OF FINANCIAL SERVICE AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION AND SETTLEMENT TEAM, UK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
