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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:
- 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "foreign exchange" (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.
- 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.
- susank001@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Susan Kirkland <susank001@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 07:50:50 +0000
Subject: CITIZENS BANK OF CANADA.
Citizens bank of Canada
Private Client
Toronto FX
184 Front Street East, Suite 700
Toronto, Ontario M5A 4N3.
Tollfree Phone: (888) 883-281.
Dear BENEFICIARY,
I am Mrs. Susan Kirkland. I work with citizens bank of Canada as
manager, Foreign Exchange and Global Payments Division. I wish to
contact you and notify you that Fund Office United Nations have issued
me a payment instruction to contact you and release your unpaid payment
of US$10.5 Million Dollars to you as soon as possible.
Please kindly reply as soon as you receive this message to enable me
finalize and release this funds to you as soon as possible. All
correspondence shall be by my personal E-mail. The E-mail address is: susank001@hotmail.com
Thanks and waiting for your reply.
Signed
Mrs. Susan Kirkland.
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Anti-fraud resources:
