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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: "United Nations Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednationsofficeauthority@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 14:43:50 -0600
Subject: Urgent Notification!!
Attention:Funds Beneficiary.
The United Nations Financial Authority (UNFA) during the meeting of today, the executive financial auditors unanimously resolved to include your full-name among the favored beneficiaries who will benefit from the Huge Funds earmarked for payments of Long-overdue debts. Each of the favored beneficiaries will receive the sum of US$18.5Million. The Global Credit Solutions (GCS) will oversee the processes and effect the 'Wire Transfer Execution' of Funds into your account.
The Global Credit Solutions Transmittal Regulatory Office shall protect you from any unexpected encumbrances on the Funds' movement. This will further provide maximum protection to you as the beneficiary, and ensure easy reception of the Funds into your destination account.
We await your prompt response.
FREDERICK PAUL GONZALEZ
CHAIRMAN; United Nations Financial Authority.
WASHINGTON DC, USA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
