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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 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Francisca Antonia" <avp_99@nwgsm.ru>
Reply-To: barclaysbank716@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2019 23:52:07 -0700
Subject: Attention:
Barclays
Bank Plc London.
P. O. Box 738, Eagle Court 75 King Str,
Hammer-Smith London, W6 9hy, United Kingdom.
Ref: Payment Approved Notification.
Attention:
In accordance to the instruction given to us from the Foreign Payment
Department United Nations Office London U.K to transfer the sum of
US$5000,000.00 (Five Million United States Dollars) Into your account
You are advice to send us an attach copy of your international
passport or drivers license with your address and mobile telephone
number to enable us transfer your fund with out westing time
above fund and forward to you the information, .
Following information stated below is all we required to transfer
your fund to your account .
1. Attach copy of your passport photo
2. Your Resident address
3. Your Direct Telephone number.
4. Your Full name
5. Occupation 6. your Banking details
We urgently need the above information for us to complete your transaction.
Kindly acknowledge your receipt of this mail.
I wait to hear from you.
Yours Faithfully.
Mrs Francisca Antonia
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Anti-fraud resources:
