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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Federal Reserve Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alvaradolgas@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 23:19:19 +0100
Subject: Re: ATTEN:BENEFICIARY!!PAYMENT DETAILS sha
Head Office
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
Tel:+240-713-5001
We have contacted you many times and informed you about the needed documents for you to be able to receive the $22.5m in your nominated account but till this moment,we never heard from you.This is really getting staled .What is really going?We have been waiting for you to conclude the transaction so that the funds $22.5m can be transfer into your account but till date never heard from you.
The Board of Directors have instructed that the transaction be concluded with immediate effect or we reallocate the funds to your representatives.
Awaiting your urgent response.
SINCERELY.
Janet L. Yellen
Chairman Board of Governors,
Federal Reserve Bank
Tel:+240-713-5001
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Anti-fraud resources:
