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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)
- 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.
- nedbank7@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Visa Card promotion <masonrick404@gmail.com>
Reply-To: nedbank7@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2017 16:38:48 +0200
Subject: Dear valued customer
Dear valued customer,
Thanks for using VISA CARD. As part of our yearly promo, you have been
selected as our lucky winner to receive an ATM VISA CARD loaded and valued
$1.3 million (One Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in
your favour. This ATM CARD is activated for online shopping, for purchasing
of goods & service and for withdrawing cash from any AUTOMATED TELLER
MACHINE world-wide.
Please contact Mr Tom Adams of NEDBANK South Africa for delivery of your
ATM CARD to your door-step. Please you are advised in your own interest to
reconfirm your full name, current address and direct phone number to this
email; nedbank7@yahoo.com OR call +27621128041
Mrs Rose McCollum
PRO, VISA CARD
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Anti-fraud resources:
