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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- 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.
- mrs.maryjack15@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Sandy Frank" <dannymantey@att.net>
Reply-To: mrs.maryjack15@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:30:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATM CREDIT CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Dear Friend,
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How are you today?It has come to my notice that you have been spending a lot of funds to get your inheritance funds .
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It came to my desk today,By the SKYE Bank Governor and of the board of Internal Revenue that some one came to his Office claiming that you sent him to come represent you and sign the necessary documents and receive your funds .
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Mr.Frank Obi told me that an email was sent to you and you responded Back that you do not know that because of this Issue,I have decided that your payment will be made to you through an A.T.M CARD. (3.3 Million USD).
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do forward this required information to me for the A.T.M CARD to be posted to you So That No One Will Know About It .
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Full Name:..........................
Date Of Birth:......................
Sex:...................................
Home Address:...................
Next Of Kins:......................
Direct ................................
Occupation:........................
A copy of any of your valid ID cards (Driver’s license or International passport)
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As soon as this is received by me,Your A.T.M CARD will be posted to you .Contact through this Email:..{mrs.maryjack15@yahoo.fr}
Â
Mr.Sandy Frank
Director ATM Swift Card/Foreign Operation Dept,
Skye Bank Nigeria .
Contact Number: +2348057259158
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Anti-fraud resources:
