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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:
- "million 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)
- 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.
- jamesbullock1985@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "James Bullock" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamesbullock1985@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:43:37 +0100
Subject: Your funds released
To whom it may concern.
I Mr James Bullock have been instructed by the concerned authorities to
have your funds transfer file release process opened and completed
otherwise your fund would be declared unserviceable, and funds will
be transferred into the Government Treasury Account this is why I have
decided to contact you.
You are benefiting from this scheme because a selection process was
carried out through random selection in our computerized email
selection system (ESS) from a
data-base of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the
continents of the world which you were selected to be paid.
The released funds due to you is $5.500,000,00USD..(five point five
million dollars)
Due to the ongoing scam around the globe on transferring of funds and
also on peoples accounting information being manipulated when
released. You are expected to complete your fund processing with our
office here in Benin du republic for your ownership certificate
procurement from the ministry of finance after which you move to our
payment center in Brussels for payment.
In Brussels you will be paying for the storage of your funds in the
payment centre while you are on visit there..Payment gives you access
to the storage facilty.
Please get back us with your
1. Your Full Name
2. Your Contact Address
3. Your Occupation / Position & Age
4. Your Mobile and House Telephone Number
5. A copy of your Driver’s License or your International Passport.
Contact email : jamesbullock1985@gmail.com
Please note that you will be responsible for your traveling and
accommodation expenses while you are in Brussels for your payment.In
Belgium you will see your funds with your eyes.
Regards
James Bullock
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