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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:
- "foreign remittance 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: pastor john ben <tumwesigyefred075@gmail.com>
Reply-To: customercare@developmentfinancecu.com
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2023 11:53:15 -0700
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY, I BRING TO YOU GOOD NEWS.
THIS IS INFORM YOU THAT WE RECEIVED AN ORDER FROM MINISTRY OF FINANCE
TO OPIN ONLINE BANKING ACCOUNT IN YOUR FAVOR
I am hereby writing to inform you that the government of Uganda has
today Morning deposited your inheritance $10.5 Million united state,
dollars with this our bank DFCU. The government had a clear mandate us
to open an online account in your name with the bank and set up an
on-line transfer that you will use to transfer the funds into your
personal account.
SO I WANT YOU TO RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE BELOW INFORMATION FOR PROPER
UNDERSTANDING BY FILLING THE ATTACH HOMELAND SECURITY REGISTRATION
FORM OKAY.
YOUR ID/PASSPORT NAME. . . . . .
HOME ADDRESS. . . . . . . . . . .
DIRECT TELEPHONE. . . . . . . . . . . .
PRESENT OCCUPATION. . . . . . . . . . . .
CITY & COUNTRY. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
SCAN COPY OF IDENTIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . .
Best Regards,Foreign Remittance Department
E-mail....customercare@developmentfinancecu.com
Office Phone/+256751862980UFCU OF UGANDAPastor John Ben
Chief Executive Officer Director of Account Administration
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Anti-fraud resources:
