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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- bkchambers74@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ben S. Bernanke" <user@noteworthymedical.com>
Reply-To: <bkchambers74@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 14:12:25 +0100
Subject: RE:YOUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE: ECB/06654 FOR $900,000 USD ONLY.
2014 COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS.
YOUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE: ECB/06654 FOR $900,000 USD ONLY.
This is to bring to your notice that our bank (SKY BANK INTL. PLC) is delegated by the ECOWAS/UNITED NATIONS with Central Bank to pay victims of scam $900,000 (NINE Hundred Thousand Dollars Only). For verification you are to view the following link.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm
You are to send the following information's for remittance.
FIRST NAME....................
LAST NAME.....................
OTHER NAME....................
ADDRESS.......................
WORK ADDRESS..................
Occupation/Position..............
COUNTRY.......................
ZIP CODE......................
Marita STATUS........................
Amount Defrauded..............
EMAIL ADDRESS.................
DIRECT PHONE NUMBER....................
A COPY OF INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
Send a copy of your response with the PAYMENT CODE NUMBER(ECB/06654). To Our Legal affiliate courier company.
Contact Person: Barrister Kimberly Bradly
Email: bkchambers74@gmail.com
Direct number:+234-8114-914-988
Note:The only fees you have to pay to the courier company is the stamp duties which is US$450,contact them as soon as possible to make arrangement on how to deliver your ATM CARD.Remember no C.O.D.We have taken care of every other payment on your behalf except the stamp duties fees.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Ben S. Bernanke
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
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Anti-fraud resources:
