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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "offshore account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Kanokwan Thawatchail" <support@almobde3on.com>
Reply-To: mr.kanokwanthawatchai2@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2015 16:12:05 +0100
Subject: Mr. Kanokwan Thawatchai
After due vetting and evaluation of your payment file which has been approved in
your name by the Thailand Government to see to your immediate payment of the sum of
US$5,000,000.00 from their Offshore account with us.We were meant to understand
from our findings that you have been going through hard ways to see to the release
of your fund (US$5,000,000.00) payment which has been delayed. Well i need to
inform you that your payment has been approval for immediate crediting as soon as
possible.
The only thing required from you is to follow the instruction of the bank so that
they can assist you remit your fund in your account. We will help you to see that
your fund is been credited into your bank account as soon as possible only that you
have only two options to receive your fund such as Wire transfer/Online Wire
transfer.
If you follow up our directives your fund will reflect in your account within five
Bank working days from the day your contact our paying bank and follow due
process.Kindly get in touch with us for further clarification.Finally you are
advised to forward to this office the follow information such as your full name and
address, Phone number for easy communication before we can direct you to our paying
bank.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Kanokwan Thawatchai
Chairman Foreign Debt/Contract Payment
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Anti-fraud resources:
