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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Oceanic Bank plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dennismooremoore31@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:42:48 -0800
Subject: COMPENSATION PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attention:Beneficiary
You are welcome to Oceanic Bank Plc. I am Mr Dennis Moore the Fund Remittance Dept Director. This E-mail is to notify you that i have confirmed the delivery of a bank draft the total sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United state Dollars) in your favor as your due compensation payment forwarded to this bank By the United Nations office for our immediate remittance to you.
However, note that a special payment arrangement has been made towards the successful remittance of this fund to you via a Telegraphic Wire transfer. You are hereby advised to urgently furnish this office with your full banking and personal details to enable us open up your payment file regarding the release of your fund immediately. The information required from you to enable us process your payment are as follows;
(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Residential Address:
(3) Cell Phone:
(4) Occupation:
(5) Age:
(6) Marital Status:
You are advised to contact us immediately with the above required information couple with your banking information for further details.Thanks for your understanding and co-operation Pls respond to this email within the next 24 hrs to enable a speedy remittance of your payment.
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Anti-fraud resources:
