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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:
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Edward Scott" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <esqedwardscott@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:23:00 +0100
Subject: ATM 822 (FROM UNITED NATIONS)
This is to officially inform you that (ATM Card Number; 4278763100030014) has
been accredited in your favor.
Your Personal Identification Number is 2900.
The ATM Card Value is $200,000.00 USD(TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ONLY)Which you can only withdraw 1200 dollars daily..
It is to last for only two weeks for victims that has lost some funds from the internet to scammers.
Your email address selected to be sent this ATM card.
We have assigned DHL to deliver your ATM card to you.
You are advice to contact Mr Peter Andrew the DHL dispatched manager in charge in London
with the following information via Email: peterandrew@dhl-dispatch.com
Once you receive the ATM card from DHL, contact ABBEY BANK INTERNATIONAL LONDON for the your PIN number due to security reasons.
The funds in the ATM was drawn from same bank .
EMAIL: info@abbey-bank.org
FORWARD INFORMATION BELOW TO DHL AS INSTRUCTED.
FULL NAME:.................................
DELIVERYADDRESS:.......................
PHONE NUMBER:.........................................
COUNTRY:...............................................
OCCUPATION:...................................
SEX: AGE:..........................................................
Senator Edward Scott Announcer
UNITED NATIONS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
