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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- 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.
- zeninitbnk@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Zenith Bank Plc <zennitbnk@live.com>
Reply-To: bankzenith0434@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 10:12:27 -0400
Subject: Your Payment of US$10.7 Million Dollars ...
RE: Attention,
From The Records of Outstanding Payment With The Federal Government Of Nigeria
Your Name Was Discovered As Next On The List Of Outstanding
Beneficiary Who Have
Not Received Their Payments. I Wish to Inform You That Your Payment Have being
processed and will be Released to You As Soon As You Respond to This Letter.
Also note that from Records in My File, Your Outstanding Payment Is ( Ten
Million seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars}. To this end, you are
required to indicate your mode of payment.
1)BY ATM MASTER CARD
2)BY DIPLOMATIC CASH DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR STEP
3)BY TELEGRAPHIC TELEX TRANSFER
Please Re-Confirm To Me If This Is In Line With What You Have In Your
Record And
Also Re-Confirm To Me The Followings:
1} Your Full Name ---------------------------------
2} Your Phone and Fax Numbers ----------------
3} Your Company Address and Position --------
4} Your Marital Status, Profession and Age. ----
As Soon As these Information is received, your transaction shall be addressed
based on your choice of payment.Contact email. zeninitbnk@hotmail.com
Yours In Service,
Rev. James Eke
Director Of Currency
Zenith Bank Plc
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Anti-fraud resources:
