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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:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- 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.
- mbello707@centrum.cz (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Bank of africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mbello707@centrum.cz>
Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 08:43:29 +0100
Subject: Inheritors due for payment.
RE: IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT
From the records of outstanding contractors/Inheritors due for payment.Your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding beneficiaries who have not received their payments of 10.500,000.00USD.
We wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that We have been fully authorised from the Presidency to pay a first instalment contract payment.
Please re-confirm to me the followings:
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company name, Position and Address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) A valid identification
As soon as these information are received, your payment will be made to you directly and a copy of transfer confirmation informations will be given to you for you to take to your at the valid date.
Please kindly get back to us as soon as you receive this mail through my email:
(mbello707@centrum.cz / officebox1@mail.kz)
Yours Sincerely,
Mark Bello
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Anti-fraud resources:
