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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:
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ALPHA BANK PLC <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infoalphabank.plc@aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2015 04:58:29 -0500
Subject: BANK TRANSFER NOTIFICATION
Your Urgent Reply his Needed
I am obliged to inform you that . Mr Eric Moore the New Managing
Director have succeeded in receiving your Compensation Fund and
permission from the Ministry of Finance to Transfer the funds through
Fast Online Banking Transfer
Re: Release/Transfer Notice of your Approved Funds ($800,000.00USD)
Compensation Fund from United Nation, World Bank,European Union and
Africa Union. You are to contact the Funds Transfer Manager Mr Eric
Moore
for more information's on how you can received your Fund and forward to
him your
full details for Quick Online Transfer.
(1) Full Name: ......
(2) Address: ....................
(3) Phone and Fax Number: ........
(4) Date of Birth:........
(5) Occupation: ............
(6) Identification either, Passport photo page, Driver License or
National ID. (IF AVAILABLE)
Thanks for your co-operation.
Mr Eric Moore
Managing Director
Funds Transfer Director
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Anti-fraud resources:
