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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "fund beneficiary" (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 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.
- +447011137580 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Santander UK Plc
Reply-To: std.online@mailbox.sk
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2017 06:01:32 +0100
Subject: FUND RELEASE ADVICE
URGENT ATTN: FUND BENEFICIARY, WE HAVE BEEN MANDATED BY THE UK FINANCIAL RE=
PORTING COUNCIL TO CONTACT YOU WITH REGARDS TO YOUR PROTRACTED AND STALLED =
FUNDS AND THE RELEASE OF YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT. I WOULD URGE YOU TO ACCORD T=
HIS CORRESPONDENCE YOUR FULL INDULGENCE AND ATTENTION, KINDLY REPLY BACK FO=
R FURTHER INSTRUCTION ON HOW YOU CAN REDEEM YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS. ALSO YO=
U HAVE TO STOP FURTHER EMAIL COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE IMPOSTORS ASKING YOU =
TO SEND THEM MONEY FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER, BECAUSE THE FINANCIAL REPOR=
TING COUNCIL IS ON THEIR TRIAL TO ARREST THESE SCAMMER AND IMPERSONATORS. S=
O YOU'RE ADVISED TO STOP FURTHER CONTACT WITH THEM AND GIVE US YOUR 100% AT=
TENTION. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. MR. TOM. RANGER DIRECTOR OF F=
UNDING AND AUDIT DEPARTMENT SANTANDER UK PLC TEL: + 44 701 113 7580
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Anti-fraud resources:
