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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.
- african.union@dr.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION <"www."@samba.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION <african.union@dr.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2017 15:49:48 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Kindly Direct all Response to : african.union@dr.com
Dear Email owner ,
We are officially informing you that the AFRICAN UNION COMPENSATION COMMISSION headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the directives of the IMF, AU and American embassy in Benin Republic have concluded all the necessary arrangement for the release of all your outstanding fund totaling the sum of Seven million, five hundred thousand United States Dollars only (7.5m usd) which after due consideration was credited to an ATM MASTER CARD to easy up the transfer process which was highly monitored by all parties concerned.
To avoid loosing it to any third party, you are kindly adviced to reconfirm urgently, the below informations as we shall not be blamed on account of non compliance from you.
1. Your Full Name:
2. Address Where You want us to Send Your ATM Card
3. Cell/Mobile Number:
that will enable us to commence with every necessary arrangement with your preferred delivery company which will be made available to you shortly for the immediate mailing within the working days to your address as we look forward to your reconfirmation and strict compliance.
Thanks.
Dr. Chimamanda
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Anti-fraud resources:
