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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: UNITED NATION COMPENSATION <compensationunit@un-org-office.tk>
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2010 17:45:39 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: GET ME BACK AS SON AS POSSIBLE FOR WHAT IS HAPINING NOW
Message from West Africa United National,
This is to notify you that we have your fund of USD$1,500,000.00 with us here in the UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION WEST AFRICA and it has been written in your name.
Due to your late response to our email and this transaction, there is someone here who said he is from your country and he says he is the owner of the fund. He said he ready to pay for the procurement of the legal documents which is $330 for the release of the found to him,he said is going to pay the $330 dollars . He has been held right away for verification purpose, for us to know if he is the real owner of this fund. Since the fund belongs to you we have to write you to let you know About this serious issue that is going now.
This meeting was first held on the 8th of April 2003.
You can view this page for your perusal and we are still making the payment till today
http://www.un.org/News/Press/ docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm
Assess Code:8911-89-QDR
You have to reply within the next 48hrs for security purpose so that your fund would not be transferred to another person. So you are to know what to do about this so that your fund would not be transferred or be claimed by another person.
I await your urgent response to this office immediately.
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary (WEST AFRICA UNITED NATIONS).
Tel: +234-8025807560
Fax: (234)(1) 8261841
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Anti-fraud resources:
