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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: jobs@maxlogistics.com.pk
Reply-To: jonesabelj@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:50:25 +0500
Subject: RE: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
RE: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attn: sir/Madam,
This is to draw your attention that your fund lying in suspense account
with the BANK OF ENGLAND , the British Government ($5.690million) has
authorized us to effect every outstanding payment immediately based on the
new Government instruction by the Newly elected Prime minister, the only
problem now is that we dictated a lot of irregularities associated with
your transfer and we will appreciate it if you answer the following
question.
(1) Did you at any time delegate any body not even from your family to
claim your fund on your behalf?
(2) Were you involved in a motor accident?
(3) Are you aware or related to one Mr. Thomas Mick from your country?
Please reconfirm and answer the above questions because Mr. Thomas Mick
came to our foreign payment department and submitted an application that
you authorized your fund to be paid into the account of Union Bank of
Switzerland (UBS) with Account number UBS-A943BDG99 with a report that you
are now paralyzed as a result of the ghastly motor accident you had some
months back.
After processing the application of Mr Thomas Mick himself which he made
known to us that he came from you, he succeeded in getting some required
documents as to make sure that we effect this transfer as quickly as
possible without any further delay.
The delay in transferring the funds is due to the request for a power of
attorney authorizing him to pursue this payment on your behalf. He asked
for a week so as to submit the document, but up till now we have not
received any of the documents from any of you. Why? please forward us the
power of attorney by a return E-mail: so that we can ask Union Bank of
Switzerland (UBS) to effect your payment to his nominated Bank account on
your behalf without delay.
Anticipating your prompt response.
Best Regards.
MR ABEL JONES.
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