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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:
- "to your nominated bank 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- 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.
- markevansdr1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mark Evans <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: markevansdr1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:38:05 +0100
Subject: RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS VIA SWIFT TRANSFER
--
World Bank Group (WBG)
Address:The World Bank
1818 H St NW
Washington
Email:markevansdr1@gmail.com
Telephone:+12024642437
Attention:
RE: RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS VIA SWIFT TRANSFER.
This is to officially inform you that we have received an Irrevocable
Payment Release Order (IPRO) from the British Government to release your
funds to your nominated bank account in your country.
Be informed that you will receive your funds by Swift Transfer (ST).
Based on this instruction, we wish to inform you that your payment has
been approved via Swift Transfer (ST) to your nominated bank account of
your choice.
In view of this, it is very important you re-confirm immediately the
following information’s as to enable us process and transfer your funds
to you without any hitch:
I Your Full Names.
2 Your Complete Address in Your Country.
2 Your Mobile and Telephone Numbers.
3 Your Bank Name.
4 Your Complete Bank Address.
4 Your Account Number.
5 The Beneficiary of the Account.
6 Your Bank Swift Code.
7 Your Occupation and Age.
8 Your Full Payment Amount.
9 Your International Passport or Your Identity Card.
Note that Immediately we receive this information’s from you, we will
proceed to release your funds without any hitch.
Our priority is to make sure that you receive your funds.
Call me on my Direct line +12024642437
Await your urgent reply.
Congratulations!
Yours in service.
Dr Mark Evans
Director, Foreign Operations Department.
World Bank Group (WBG).
USA.
Email: markevansdr1@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
