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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "tedanderson@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Anna Buchanan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tedanderson@admin.in.th>
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:54:51 -0400
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT !!
Dear Beneficiary,
NOTIFICATION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT
This is regarding your long over-due fund which you have been having difficulties trying to receive. Your payment has been finally arranged through a certified cashier's check. This cashier's check is issued by Zenith Bank Nigeria PLC. This is part of an instruction/mandate by the International Monetary Fund in respect to overseas contract payment and debt re-scheduling due to the complexities with bank transfers.
We shall send you a cashier's check which you are to use in accessing your funds at any local branch of your bank. The check is valued at Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars only.
You are advised to kindly re-confirm your details below with your processing officer (Mr. Ted Anderson);
(1) Full Names:
(2) Residential Address (or P.O.BOX):
(3) Direct and Current Phone Number:
(4) Age:
(5) Country of Residence:
(6) Occupation:
Find below appropriate contact details of your processing officer to send the above details to;
Name: Ted Anderson
Email: tedanderson@admin.in.th
Note: As soon as your details have been received here, you are to stop any further communications with all other bodies to avoid mis-appropriation of your check.
Thanks for your co-operation.
The information contained in this e-mail is private & confidential and may also be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us, preferably by e-mail, and do not read, copy or disclose the contents of this message to anyone.
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