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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:
- "the required fees" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- andrewrichard1965@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Andrew Richard <jinaamfashion@gmail.com>
Reply-To: andrewrichard1965@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2013 18:15:22 +0200
Subject: GREETINGS FROM ANDREW RICHARD (FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA)
Attention:
This is to inform you that the senate committee on finance and foreign
payment/board of directors of FIRST BANK of Nigeria has finaly
approved your fund for immediate transfer to your nominated bank
account.
Be informed that the new director of international remittance of FIRST
BANK of Nigeria (Dr Andrew Richard.) is now incharge of the transfer
of all foreign payments.
You are hereby advised to reconfirm your bank account informations
immediately to avoid any mistake during the transfer of your fund.
You are to send $550 only through western union money transfer with
the name of FIRST BANK account officer {Mr.Israel Samuel} for
TELEGRAPHIC SCREEN CHARGE/TRANSFER PIN CODE of your fund and forward
the MTCN as soon as you send it to enable us transfer your fund
immediately and send you your transfer confirmation SLIP.
I will also like to inform you that your fund has been programmed
already for transfer to your nominated bank account in your country,we
do not accept delays when huge amount of money is been programmed in
our system for security reasons.You should make sure you send the
required fees ($550) immediately as I have instructed you.
You are advised to STOP all further communication and follow my
instruction immediately.
I am urgently waiting for your action.
Sincerely,
Congratulations!
Dr Andrew Richard.
Email: andrewrichard1965@hotmail.com
New director of international remittance (FIRST BANK)
of Nigeria.
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Anti-fraud resources:
