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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "agentdrrandymiller@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "agentdrrandymiller@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447031746548 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "The Microsoft Corporation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agentdrrandymiller@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 09:38:14 -0700
Subject: The Microsoft Corporation World Lottery,
The Microsoft Corporation
World Lottery,
P O Box 1010
United Kingdom Liverpool, L70 1NL
Tel +447-031-746-548
E-mail: agentdrrandymiller@gala.net
Your email address just won you GBP1,000,000.00 in the ongoing Microsoft weekly sweepstakes draws held in London. Your email address was attached to Pin No: 9387001 serial No: 5388/02. Contact fiduciary with the datas below:
Pin No........
serial No.........
Full Names.......
Add...............
Tel/fax..........
Occupation.......
Country..........
Contact Person: Dr.Randy Phill Millier.
E-mail:(agentdrrandymiller@gala.net)
Foreign Services Manager
Tel + 447-031-746-548
Information and Payment Bureau:
Sincerely,
Mrs.Dianne Thompson
CONTROLLER GENERAL.
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Anti-fraud resources:
