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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "larrylewandowksi@qq.com" (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: Mrs Janet Cory <atmreward4@mailbox047.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <larrylewandowksi@qq.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 12:54:11 +0100
Subject: DEAR ATM CARD BENEFICIARY FROM UN/IMF
I wish to use this medium to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Payment of US$10.5Million dollars from ASIA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward Transfer to you through an ATM CARD after our meeting with United Nations in conjunction with International monetary fund (IMF) supported by World bank.
We the board of trustees of United Nations/IMF have also mandated the Federal Government of India designated bank to send your ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you which you will use to withdraw all your USD$10.5Million in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world at the maximum of $4,000 per day. You are therefore advised to contact the DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD
OPERATIONS in India with the information stated below:
CONTACT PERSON: Dr. Larry Lewandowski, THE DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OPERATIONS, EMAIL address : larrylewandowksi@qq.com
Inform Dr. Larry Lewandowski, THE DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OPERATIONS that you received a message from United Nation by Mrs Janet Cory in London.
We wish to use this opportunity to express our sincere apology over your plight in the past Years and we wish to assure you of prompt receipt of your fund through ATM Card. Thanking you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
BEST REGARDS
Mrs. Janet Cory,
On behalf of IMF/UN.
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Anti-fraud resources:
