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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:
- "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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Mclean JOHN" <Mjohn@boaa.bj>
Reply-To: mclean.john1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2019 11:19:50 -0700
Subject: Payment Notification (Read Carefully.)
BANK OF AFRICA /UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
REF/PAYMENTS CODE:06654.
Telephone Number: +229 00577515
AMOUNT ;$1,000.000.00 USD.
=
Attention,
I write to bring to your notice that I am one of the official monetary off=
icers of BANK OF AFRICA and on behalf of the United Nations make available =
a check of (One Million Dollars Only) each for past effort and services.
You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the beneficiaries t=
o be paid and be rest assured that your check will be delivered to you.
Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from UPS website to c=
onfirm people like you who have received their payment successfully.
Name :Racheal Frank :UPS Tracking Number...1z89249r2210011070 (www.ups.com)
Name :Zaidi Mohammed :UPS Tracking Number...1z89249r2210011025 (www.ups.com)
Name :Stephen Medaris :UPS Tracking Number..1z89249r2210011089 (www.ups.com)
Name :Seddek Farhard :UPS Tracking Number..1z89249r2210011098 (www.ups.com)
=
Your Information is required to proceed:
Full Name:
Address:
Country:
Telephone Number:
Note that you will be responsible for the delivery charges of $140, only a=
nd you Tracking Number will be issued to you by the United Parcel Service (=
U.P.S) to track your Cashier check till it gets to your Doorstep Upon recei=
pt of payment the delivery officer will ensure that your package is sent wi=
thin 24 working hours.
Yours sincerely
Mclean John
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Anti-fraud resources:
