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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:
- "clearance fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "info@initednations-org.tk" (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.
- +447045731056 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anderson_daviclaims11@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:37:20 -0700
Subject: FROM UNITEDNATION ORGANISATION (URGENT
Dear Beneficiary,
This letter is brought to you from the UN. It is to inform you that I have
paid the fee for your Cheque Draft remaining only the custom clearance fee
to be paid, Due to the fact that the manager of Bank of Scotland told me
that before the cheque will expire before it gets to you, so I told him to
cash 10.5M Pounds Sterling in light of that fact. All the necessary
arrangement of delivering the10.5M Pounds Sterling in cash has been
successfully made with the UNITED NATION DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.Here is the
information they need to enable them deliver your package to you
immediately they arrive in your country with your Box of Consignment.
.
YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE/MOBILE NUMBER:
A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE OR PASSPORT:
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Managing Director
who is "Andrew Smith" with his below contact details.
Attn: Andrew davis (PhD)
Phone: +44 70457 31056
Email: info@initednations-org.tk
I registered it as a Box of cloth without anyones notice to avoid delay in
the delivery of your Box of consignment in your country. I await your
urgent response for further steps and guidelines to enable the successful
delivery of your Box of Consignment (10.5M Pounds Sterling).
Be guided accordingly
Chartered Secretary
UNITED NATIONS
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Anti-fraud resources:
