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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:
- ",500,000" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Alex Glasgow" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexglasgow064@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2017 23:18:35 +1100
Subject: INSTRUCTION HOW TO RECEIVES YOUR FUND
From: Mr. Alex Glasgow
Remittance Manager
Barclays Bank Plc.
Attention: Beneficiary
REF:- INSTRUCTION HOW TO RECEIVES YOUR FUND
This is second time we are notifying you about the statue of your fund right now in my desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your Inheritance file which The Ministry of Finance, Forwarded and contacted us to see to your immediate payment.
We write to inform you that, this office has arrange all the necessary document for our Telex Department for immediate programming them into our payment system and We shall update you with next correspondence as soon as we confirm the details.
From our findings you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund ($1,500,000,00) which has been delayed. We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence.
Please Reconfirm Your Delivery Information so that we will not make any wrongful delivery.
(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Your Address Where You Want the Payment
Centre to Send Your ATM Card.:
(3) Phone and Fax Number:
(4) Age and Occupation:
(5) Your Nearest International Air Port in Your
City Of Residence:
We Shall Be Expecting To Receive Your Information You Have Stop Any Further Communication With Anybody Or Office that might be posing as a bank official to you.
Thanks for Your Co-Operation and understanding.
Best Regards,
From: Mr. Alex Glasgow
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Anti-fraud resources:
