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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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.
- +447031947513 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "APEX LOTTERY PROMO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claim_apex2016@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2016 20:44:54 +0800
Subject: CHANGE OF ACCOUNT NOTIFICATION
RE: CLAIM AUTHORIZATION REPORT
WE RECEIVED A REPORT TODAY FROM THE PAYING BANK THAT YOU INSTRUCTED MR. PETER HANSON
TO CLAIM YOUR AWARD PRIZE ON YOUR BEHALF, HE PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING BANK ACCOUNT
FOR THE CLAIM OF THE PRIZE .
Bank name: St George bank
BSB no: 112879
Account name: Peter Hanson
Account number...494213718.
Swift Code.. SGBLAU2S
Bank address :126- CHARCH ST PARRAMATTA 2150
AUSTRALIA NSW.
PLEASE YOU HAVE TO RECONFIRM IF THE AUTHORIZATION IS FROM YOU BEFORE WE WILL GIVE THE
PAYING BANK THE GO AHEAD TO REMIT THE AWARD PRIZE TO THE ACCOUNT.
TREAT AS URGENT .
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR. WILLIAMS CONNOR
CLAIM AGENT
APEX FOUNDATION.
Tel: +44-7031947513
Fax: +44-8166281183
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Anti-fraud resources:
