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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- unbz1o@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "REPORTER - MR NITIN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pacub64@in.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:51:52 +0100
Subject: Strictly Confidential
Strictly Confidential
My name is Mr Nitin from India, a UN war crime/genocide abuse journalist.
I seek your utmost confident to transfer Eleven Million Dollars into your
bank account for joint investment. I accept to offer you 30% of the total
funds as my gratification..
THE ORIGIN OF FUNDS: The funds was given to me by one Sahara Head of
state as a gesture preventing me from revealing a war crime genocide
proves i had against him since 2008 to the news media.
But in line with the moral principal of my services as journalist, I must
not own more than Ten Thousand Dollars in my private bank account.
Due to this regulations, I decided to contact you seeking for your help
securing this funds into your bank account until i successfully process my
resignation in the nearest future.
I strongly count on your ability to protect my interest while this funds
is in your bank account.
Please provide me with your contact details if you accept this offer.
1) Your Full Name .
2) Your Residential Address.
3) Your Private Mobile.
4) Occupation.
As soon as I hear from you, further details of the funds transfer will be
unveiled to you.
My Best Regards.
Mr. Nitin
Journalist
unbz1o@rediffmail.com
NOTE: In the event of your inability to handle this transaction please
inform me so that I can look for another reliable person who can assist
me.
This business itself is 100% safe, provided you treat it with utmost
confidentiality. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you
will not disappoint me.
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Anti-fraud resources:
