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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:
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- atm_card25@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Ann Johnson <stefania.vitali.64@alice.it>
Reply-To: westerunion_yourmoneytransfer@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 14:04:08 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Your Pin code is(4242)
We have finally arranged to deliver your ATM CARD worth $4.5
USD through the national UPS company. We were able to accomplish this
through the help of IMF director John Andy and every necessary
arrangement has been made successfully with the National UPS Agent HON JERRY
LEO.
Contact
person: HON JERRY LEO
Telephone: +229 99076712
Email:atm_card25@yahoo.fr
informed that delivery agent will leave to this country as soon as you
have proceed with the UPS requirement for your fund deliver, your ATM
CARD registration code is (GL-1416),use it as your subject when contacting
him, their keeping fee is $105. Good luck. Your Pin code is(4242).
Sincerely
Mrs.Mary J.Boni
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Anti-fraud resources:
