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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:
- ",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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- unpaid04@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. BAN KI-MOON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unpaid04@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:45:49 +1000
Subject: I HAVE BEEN TRYING YOUR #..
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS TRANSFER / AUDIT UNIT)
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMMED)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870 U N PLAZA 20-A NEW YORK NY 10017
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX028
ATTN: Valued Beneficiary
I hope this letter meets you in good condition. We have acknowledged your
response and I will like to use this prospect to thank you for your esteemed collaboration.
Your final pending payment of $5,500,000 will be released to you without
any further delay and free of charge as long as you are willing to co-operate with this board.
Do attempt to activate a bank acct for the release of your $5,500,000 as
they are our principal agent; do get back to this office ASAP.
LASTLY YOU ARE ADVICE TO RECONFIRM TO US
YOUR FULL NAME:-
ADDRESS:-
TELEPHONE NUMBER:-
So that we can effect the final release of your Funds to you ASAP.
I will be expecting your swift and expedited response shortly
Correspondence: unpaid04@aol.com
CONGRATULATIONS!
KIND REGARDS
MR. BAN KI-MOON,
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL,
NEW YORK
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