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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:
- "security keeping 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)
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- jbfinance@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Riks David" <tgred13@verizon.net>
Reply-To: <riksdavid@in.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 12:35:53 +0200
Subject: Confirm Your Cash Payment
Confirm Your Cash Payment
Attn Dear Client,
How are you today? You may not understand why this mail came to you.We have been having series of meeting for the passed 7 months which ended 2 days ago with the then secretary to the UNITED NATIONS Mr Ban Ki-moon .
This email is to all the people that have received scammed Emails in any part of the world or have been scammed, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$1,200. 000 Cash. The selection process was carried out through our computerized email selection system from a database of global email address drawn from all the continents.
This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.
We found your email in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed.
Contact them immediately for the delivery of your fund and you will pay an Express Security Keeping fee of $110 only for the shipment of your fund to you from any were you might wish to receive it .
You are to forward the following
1. Your Full Name
2. Current Address
3. Mobile Telephone Number
Do contact Global Diplomatic Finance with this CONSIGNMENT NUMBER: DCJKT00523G through this e-mail address written below.
Person to Contact: Mr David Fairbank.
Tel: +229 66 54 52 35
Email: jbfinance@hotmail.fr
Hoping to hear from you as soon as you Received Your CASH AMOUNT. Making the world a better place.
Regards,
Mr Riks David
United Nations Office
London Uk (UNOL)
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Anti-fraud resources:
