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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)
- "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)
- "atmcardpincodedepartment@ymail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <payoffices11@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:59:11 +0100
Subject: READ AND GET BACK TO US
UNITED NATIONS in Affilation with the EUROPEAN UNION.
Attention: Sir/Madam,
We hereby bring to your notice that your Scam Victim's compensation fund
of USD$6000,000.00 loaded in ATM CARD is approved and upgraded in your
favor and ready to be delivered to your doorstep by DHL or UPS or FEDEX.
Your ATM VISA Card Number is: 5428 0500 1100 4432. Your Secret Pin Number
is:2020.
So you are hereby advice to forward to this office Director ATM CARD
Department, your full Name, telephone number and your correct mailing
address where you want him to send the ATM VISA CARD to you.
The Person to Contact: Evangelist Dr. Mike Godson.
Email: atmcardpincodedepartment@ymail.com
Tel: +2348120241748
Making the world a better place
Regards,
Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General UNITED NATIONS).
http://www.un.org/sg/biography.shtml
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Anti-fraud resources:
