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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: nancy santos <nencysantos@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: nancysantos247@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:25:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: hello
My Dear,
This is to notify you of new order on the release of your fund. prior to his proceeding anomaly. We have been mandated by President of Federal Republic of Nigeria under
the new Government of Jonathan Good luck the New Elected resident on the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make sure all our debtors received their long awaiting fund within the next five working days from date.
But in your own case we found some complicity in your payment file due to petition file by one Mr. Roy T Authur a Citizen From United Kingdom but base in United States of America that he is your Lawyer and you have hand over the ownership of your fund that is still unclaimed to him.
So he now wants us to transfer your fund to his own account that is stated below.
Bank of America
New York Branch
A/C: 0911667701
Swift Code: BA09
Beneficiary: Roy industries Ltd
But what made me to contact you to verify this claim is that, I asked him to prove his claim by making available a written power of attorney duly signed by you and he could not, then I thought it will be wise to contact you to alert you if you are aware of this development.
Meanwhile, we have decided to pay part payment of ten million united states ($10m) only to our debtors in this first quarter of the year the balance will be paid in the next three months from date.
Feel free to respond to this massage to enable us decide on what to do, and furthermore forward your direct contact telephone and fax number as you read this mail.
Yours Sincerely
Sect to the President (FGN)
Disclaimer:
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Anti-fraud resources:
