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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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. Carlos Winter" <greg----adamss11@att.net>
Reply-To: uba91@live.com
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:53:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Delivery
Attn: My Dear,
I been waiting to hear from you regarding the delivery of your ATM Master Card, But due to delay and to avoid expire date of the Card, so, I went and deposit the Card with TNT Express Courier Service for them to deliver the Card to you.
Meanwhile I left an instruction to the TNT Courier director that you will contact them for the delivery. Do be inform that maximum amount pay day is USD$7,000.00 Till you withdraw your total funds of $5.7 Million USD from the Card.
Here is the contact address to the Company.
Contact Person: Dr. David Walther
E-mail: (tnt@fastservice.com)
Phone: +23481 6851 3894
So contact TNT Express Service Ltd today and do not forget to contact them with your personal information.
Full Name....
Home address.....
Home telephone number...
Mobile phone number......
Identity.........
Country.........
Do let me know as soon as you receive your ATM Master Card.
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Carlos Winter
ATM Card Department.
(Oceanic Bank Plc)
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Anti-fraud resources:
