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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- hde8922739@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Yemi Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yemimartins43@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2015 14:17:57 +0800
Subject: PAYMENT NOTICE OF TOTAL SUM OF ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY
Attention :You have been issued a payment notice of total sum of One Million five hundred thousand united states dollars only from the World Bank in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic .
This letter has been mailed and sent to all National Departments Europe, America and Asia Pacific. this is includes every foreign unpaid winning/ inheritance /contract payment may have not received their funds and those that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.your name is among appeared beneficiaries that will receive a part-payment of unpaid winning inheritance payment.
We have been instructed to release your payment with immediate effect, to claim your winning inheritance payment you are advice to send the below information for claims proceedings immediately this E-mail Address: hde8922739@gmail.com
Your Full name:
Your Address:
Your contact telephone mobile number for easy communication:
Your age:
You sex:
Your occupation:
Your country:
A copy of your verifiable identity for verification:
Your urgent response is highly required and you should call us immediately.
Congratulations in advance
Best Regards,
Mr.Yemi Martins
Director of International Payment Department
Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
