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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 message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- +447035969953 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- r.b.s-benz.claim@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: jerry smith <jerry.a.smith202@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:50:58 +0100
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?Contact_Ro?= =?windows-1256?Q?yal_Bank_O?=
=?windows-1256?Q?f_Scotland?= =?windows-1256?Q?_Plc_=FD=FD=FD(F?=
=?windows-1256?Q?or_Your_Tr?= =?windows-1256?Q?ansfer/Del?=
=?windows-1256?Q?ivery_of_Y?= =?windows-1256?Q?our_Funds)?=
=?windows-1256?Q?=FE?=
Dear Esteem Winner,
I wish to inform you that the receipt of your mail was acknowledged. Your details has been forwarded to the Royal Bank of Scotland Plc were your winning funds was deposited. The Bank is presently in possession of your winning and supporting documents.
In this regards you are now required to contact the Royal Bank of Scotland Plc with details below:
Bank Name: Royal Bank Of Scotland Plc
Contact Person: Mr. Alrick Kelvin
Contact Number: +44 703 596 9953
Contact Email: r.b.s-benz.claim@hotmail.co.uk
When contacting with the Bank, you are to provide the security code for the fund which is: MDB/121/HY/003 for easy identification and prompt attention.
Get back to me as soon as you get in contact with the bank so that I can update my files and also advise you on what to do if needed.
Thanks and once again Congratulations on behalf of Staff's and member of the British BENZ PROMOTION Board International!!
REGARDS.
MR. JERRY SMITH
CLAIMS MANAGER,
BENZ CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
THE MERCEDES BENZ COMPANY, UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
