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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:
- "you are advise 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. James Steven" <arimmgggg@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. James Steven" <atm_card1957@yahoo.com.tw>
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:54:36 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your ATM Pin-code is this (Imf-7710).
Attn: Fund Owner!
This is Mr.James Steven, General Secretary of International Monetary Fund [IMF]. I write this letter to you based on our board of Directors meeting held yesterday to release your unpaid through ATM Master Card payment method and send it to your house to avoid anymore delay. We have converted your total fund of $4.5 Million to ATM Master Card and its ready to be shipped, meanwhile you are advise to contact ATM PAYMENT CENTER.
Contact Mr. Dexter Johnson via the following information below:
Mr. Dexter Johnson
ATM MasterCard Payment.
Phone: +229-97702821
Do reconfirm the following information to Mr. Dexter Johnson to avoid wrong delivery:
Full Name________
Home or Office Address:__________
Country:____________
Telephone#______________
Mobile#______________
ID If Available________
We told Mr. Dexter Johnson that you will contact him soon for the shipment of your ATM MASTER CARD and you are advise to use the following code as Subject when contacting him: the code is (Imf-7710). Your ATM Pin-code will be given to you as soon as you contact him. Have a nice day.
Yours In Service
Mr. James Steven
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Anti-fraud resources:
