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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Depth Reconciliation Committee" <drc111@drc.com>
Reply-To: officecontact2101@gmail.com
Date: 30 Apr 2018 18:12:50 -0600
Subject: RE: VERY URGENT
Hello,
This is to inform you that Depth Reconciliation Committee have
post your cheque payment to HSBC bank in USA for u to pick up.
It will be delivered tomorrow. You are to contact Mr. Tabaka at
HSBC to direct you on to get ur funds transfer to you.
Total sum written on cheque is $2 million.
Was it you or your company that did the supply of products? On
our computer your sales@affordableagility.com address is attached
to a file showing you did a contract for supplies and you have
not been paid that is why the cheque of $2 million is issue to
your name.
Call me or send me a mail to me so that I will give u guidelines
to receive your funds.
Other company have received there payment and I just help a China
company to process a long over due contract payment of $30
million, so yours will be easy too.
I await to hear from you.
Regards,
Mr. Roman Tonio. Tel: +1 4045966532
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Anti-fraud resources:
