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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "million 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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Francis Gurry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fransisgrecop@adexec.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2018 02:39:50 -0700
Subject: Re:Fund Recovery Management And Payment Bureau.
FROM THE DESK OF: FRANCIS GURRY
DIRECTORATE INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
3, Whitehall Ct, London SW1A 2EL, United Kingdom.
RE: United Nations World Fund Recovery Management And Payment Bureau.
The United Nations World Fund Recovery Management and Payment Bureau newly established by the World Financial Service Authority United Kingdom foreign debt management office. This body was set up to recover unpaid inheritance fund through trunk boxes of next of kin.
It will interest you to know that we have recovered unclaimed sum of 6.5 Million Dollars in your name and a mandate has been given to this body World Fund Recovery Management and Payment Bureau in the United Kingdom to ensure that the fund gets to you without delay.
Please note that a special payment arrangement has been made to remit this fund to you through Bank Wire Transfers directly to your bank account. You are advised to furnish this office with the information below to enable us open up communication with you regarding the release of your fund immediately.
1. Full Names:
2. Address:
3. Telephone No:
4. Mobile Telephone No:
5. Fax No:
6. Your Bank Account Information
7. Copy of your International passport or Drivers license
We look forward to your response as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Francis Gurry
Director Foreign Payment Reconciliation London UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
