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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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" <info@united.com>
Reply-To: greg-fastdelivery@live.com
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 22:33:38 +0200 (EET)
Subject: 2011 COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS
2011 COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS.
YOUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE: ECB/06654 FOR $500,000 USD ONLY.
This is to bring to your notice that our bank (SKY BANK INTL. PLC) is
delegated by the ECOWAS/UNITED NATIONS with Central Bank to pay victims
of scam $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only).
For verification you are to view the following link.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm
You are to send the following informations for remittance.
Your Name.________
Address._________
Phone .____
Amount Defrauded.__________
Country._____________
Send a copy of your response with the PAYMENT CODE
NUMBER(ECB/06654).To Our affliate courier company.
Contact Person: Greg Johnson
Email: greg-fastdelivery@live.com
Phone Number: +2348034042429
Note:The only fees you have to pay to the courier company is the stamp
duties which is US$115,contact them as soon as possible to make
arrangement on how to deliver
your ATM CARD.Remember no C.O.D.We have taken care of every other payment
on your behalf except the stamp duties fees.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Rosemary Peter
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
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Anti-fraud resources:
