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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- bhbrown203@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR PATRICK BROWN" <companycompany3@aol.co.uk>
Reply-To: bhbrown203@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 22 May 2014 06:49:49 -0700
Subject: RE::::::PAYMENT RELEASE (Director of Remittance Zenith Bank Plc.)
Attention:
Your long overdue inheritance was finally approved for payment by the CBN and you are required to submit two passport photographs ASAP to obtain your debit card that will enable you withdraw money from any automated teller machine worldwide. You are hereby warned to desist from dealing with touts who impersonate this office in a bid to scam unsuspecting individuals and companies for their selfish gains.
Be informed that your total inheritance sum of eight million nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars is deposited in a provisional account pending when you meet the withdrawal requisites and afterwards, your money will be loaded in your prepaid Visa or Master debit card in line with the Central Bank transfer regulations.
In the meantime, you are required to provide the followings:
a. Full Name
b. Postal address.
c. Phone/ Fax Number.
d. Occupation
e. Sex and Age
Note that you may email me here:bhbrown203@yahoo.co.jp if you have any questions or concern and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Kind regards,
Thanks for your co-operation.
EMAIL:bhbrown203@yahoo.co.jp
MR. PATRICK BROWN
Director of Remittance Zenith Bank Plc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
