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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: "Mr. Encik Othman Abdullah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infogood@gmx.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 14:49:46 -0700
Subject: Greetings!
Greetings!
l will like you to understand that, this is no spam message. Your attention to this message will change your life.
I NEED JUST YOUR CO-OPERATIONS.I am Mr.Encik Othman Abdullah,I am the Accountant-General of Central Bank of Malaysia
(Bank Negara Malaysia). We give final endorsement to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks
both on the local and international levels in line with foreign claims settlement.
I have before me list of funds which could not be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been
identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc.
0n this note, I wish to have a deal with you as regards an unpaid funds. I have a file before me and the data are
correct and un-tampered. As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the Federal Government
Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits.
I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received two days ago from the Foreign Debts reconciliation
department to submit the list of payment analysis on expenditures and audited reports of revenues. I believe we can have a
deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.
My conditions:
1. The sum of US$22 Million only will be transferred into your account after the processing of all relevant legal documents
with your name as the bonfide beneficiary. The transfer will be made by bank draft, or telegraphic Transfer T/T confirmable
in 3 working days.
2. This deal must be kept secret forever and all correspondence will be strictly by e-mail / telephone for security purposes.
3. There should be no third parties as most problems associated with transactions of this magnitude are caused by agents or
representatives.
If you AGREE with my conditions l advise you to send the following:
A: Your Full name and address
B: Your direct telephone number
C:Sex MALE
D:Occupation.
E. Country
The transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment Module instantly to meet the mandate.
Waiting for your reply soon.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Encik Othman Abdullah
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