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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Wells Fargo Banking <asx---jlk@att.net>
Reply-To: credittelexcontrolroom@live.com
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 23:25:05 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Now Released!!!
THE CREDIT/ TELEX CONTROL DIVISION.
WELLS FARGO BANKING.
ATTN: THE RECIPIENT
TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER NOTICE.
WE ARE HEREBY OFFICIALLY NOTIFY YOU CONCERNING THE TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER THROUGH OUR BANK WHICH HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY APPROVED BY THE SWISS BANK AND U.S GOVERNMENT TO CREDIT THE SUM OF US$18.5 MILLION INTO ANY BANK ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE. THIS TRANSMITTAL IS REGISTERED AND APPROVED WITH THE WORLD BANK SWITZERLAND IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPLETE US FINANCIAL BODIES.
NOTE, THE ARRANGEMENT CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF YOUR APPROVED FUND IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS AND TRANSMITTAL WOULD BE CARRIED WITHIN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME FROM THE TIME WE RECEIVED YOUR ¼ BELOW NEEDED INFORMATION.
1. NAME OF BANK: 2. BANK ADDRESS: 3. ACCOUNT NUMBER: 4. ROUTING NUMBER: 5. NAME OF ACCOUNT: 6. BENEFICIARY'S ADDRESS: 7. YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER: E-mail AND FINALLY, YOUR FULL NAME.
YOUR REPLY SHOULD BE DIRECTLY TO THE CREDIT CONTROL ROOM FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
THE CREDIT / TELEX CONTROL DIVISION.
WELLS FARGO BANKING.
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Sent from Wells Fargo communications network..
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Anti-fraud resources:
