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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:
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- +447024092767 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nations Assisted Trust Fund" <info@unfoundation.org>
Reply-To: transfer@puentedeixtla.com
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:50:28 +1100
Subject: Message
You have been approved to receive the sum of $550,000 from the national
headquarters of the United Nations in U.S.This gesture is inline with the
UN millennium development goal bid to eradicate poverty from the faces of
the people all over the earth to the barest minimum before the year 2020.
This award comes to you as merited through email selections from your
country as one of the first favorite citizens to receive this award in
the year 2011.
You are to receive the prize money from our bank,Puentedeixla Bank Plc
London..
If you have received this message,we request that you send a
confirmation of your data to the bank for payment of the money to you.
Information requested
1. Names in Full.....................
2. Sex..........................
3. Age...............................
4. Marital Status..................
5. No of children....................
6. Occupation........................
7. Home Address.....................
8. Phone number ......................
Send information to
Mr Clifford Hughes
Account Manager
International Remittance Department
Puentedixtla Bank Plc
Email:transfer@puentedeixtla.com
Phone:+447024092767
You are advised to contact the above mentioned bank personnel and request
for the transfer of the money to you.
This opportunity only comes once in a lifetime so you are advised to make
good use of the money as we are certain this money will go a long way
solving your financial and other material issues.
Regards
Eduardo del Buey
Director Communications & Public Affairs Division
United Nations Secretariat
760 United Nations Plaza,
New York, NY 10017, USA
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Anti-fraud resources:
