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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Zenith Bank Plc <zennitbnk@live.com>
Reply-To: bankzenith0434@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:47:02 +0500
Subject: Your Payment 10 .700.000USD$
--
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:
