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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:
- "fbi washington" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Wager Williams" <roshayati@moa.gov.my>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Wager Williams" <fbi.bureau@zoho.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2013 04:11:03 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: VALUED ATTENTION.
Compliments Dear:
We use this opportunity to inform you that the FBI office has recovered your lost funds through the money tracking investigation department of FBI Washington here in Benin Republic West Africa, those impostors that scam you are now under investigation. Please contact the money tracking investigation department with the address here below, to enable them process your file and release the funds to you immediately. Email address: fbi.bureau@zoho.com Telephone: +229 9979-9998.
Sincerely
Mrs. Wager Williams.
Office Number: +229 2008-1161
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Anti-fraud resources:
