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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:
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Official Contact <judyreisberg@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: Official Contact <interconttrust@execs.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:16:19 -0500 (EST)
Subject: PAYMENT NOTICE VIA ATM MASTERCARD.
Inter-continental Trust Bank Plc
Plot 84 Ajose Adeogun Street
Victoria Island, Lagos
Attn: Beneficiary
We use this medium to apologize for the delay of your payment, all the inconveniences and afflicts you have suffered in your attempts to receive your fund are equally observed. From the records of outstanding beneficiaries review and considered due for their long payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria but due to vast irregularities and habitual abuse of institutionalized policies which had denied you receiving your fund.
Happy news is that your name was discovered as next on the payment list of the beneficiaries yet to receive their payments because of the discrepancies contained in your file presented for verifying, we as the legal unit taking charge of the disbursement of the awarded payment discovered series of abnormalities in your files. All these had been responsible for your inability to receive your fund because you are not giving the proper counseling and administrative approach deem fit for the processing of the fund.
I wish to seize this opportunity inform to you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you via ATM MASTERCARD as soon as you respond accordingly to this email not later than 72 hours from this notification. Also note that from records on our file your outstanding payment is US$1.7million dollars (One Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record or not and also re-confirm to me the followings for the administrative usage and networking of the ATM card.
1) Full Name As Appear It Will Appear On Card.
2) Full Home/Office Address.
3) Phone, fax and mobile #.
As soon as those information is received, your card processing will be recommended to the appropriate networking unit of the Ministry. You are advice to respond immediately as soon as you receive this letter for further discussion.
Have a Blessed Day.
Best Regards
Mr. Collins West
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