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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- unitedbankofamerica121@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: United Bank <"www."@rice.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: United Bank <unitedbankofamerica121@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2017 03:12:22 +0900 (JST)
Subject: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
Co-Chief Operating Officer Of Bank of America
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28202 U.S.
RE/NO: 002-BOA/0047/2013
Website: www.bankofamerica.com
My Dear:Good Day
This is to inform you that everything has been finalize but we need
to update your payment file and re-activate your account before
release of your long waited fund to your account because you have not
receive such huge amount of money in your account before that is why
your account need to re-activate and that will cost you $199 to update
your payment files and re-activate your account, so i advice you to
see what you can do and send this $199 this week so that your long
waited fund will reflect in your account once you send the $199 today
I will give you the information that you will use to send the fee ones you contact
I need your urgent reply and congratulations.
NB: THIS TRANSACTION IS BEING MONITORED BY THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO GUARDS US FOR INTERNET IMPOSTORS.
Here is my information to contact
Tel.(+22999619875)
Email.(unitedbankofamerica121@yahoo.com)
MR GEOFFREY S. GREENER
Chief Risk Officer
Co-chief Operating Officer,
Bank of America Office North Carolina
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Anti-fraud resources:
