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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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 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.
- opecsecretaryclaimdept2011@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Petroleum Global Fund" <info@opec.org>
Reply-To: opecsecretaryclaimdept2011@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:26:16 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Confirm-able Bank Draft Of =?iso-8859-1?Q?=A3860=2C000.00?=
Opec Fund For International Development (Ofid)
Petroleum Global Fund Administrative Head Office.
Zone 5 Wembley Layout,
London.
We Are Happy To Inform You That Your Email Address Has Made You One Of The World Ten (10)
Beneficiary Of The Sum Of Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand Great Britain Pounds Sterlings
(£860,000.00). Opec Fund For International Development (Ofid) Collects E-Mails Of People That Are
Active On The Global Internet And Selected Only Ten All Over The Continent Every Year Through
Electronic Balloting System Without Peoples Application Or Media Advertisement.
However, OPEC Had Registered and Paid All Financial Taxes Involving Your Won Prize and This Office
Had Registered Your Winning Cheque As Parcel Containing A Confirm-able Bank Draft Of £860,000.00.
Opec Fund For International Development (Ofid) Is Expected To Be Used By Beneficiary For Human And
Capacity Development Project Such As Education, Business, Research Or Any Proposal That Will
Positively Affect Beneficiaries And Their Host Communities.
You Have To Contact OPEC Secretary Finance Manager With Your Draft Identification Code:
(Opec/Ofid/00121) For Proof Of Ownership Not Less Than 3-Working Days For The Authorization And
Prompt Delivery Of Your Draft with the below information.
Full Name:............
Telephone:............
Age:..................
Occupation:...........
Address:..............
Country:..............
Nationality:..........
Your Mailing Details As Shown Above Should Be Forwarded To:
OPEC Secretary Finance Manager
opecsecretaryclaimdept2011@hotmail.com
DR.MICHEAL MORRISON
Tel: {+44}-7014239443
Tel: {+44}-8713152807
You Keep Your Draft Identification Code(Opec/Ofid/00121) From Any Other Person To Avoid Double
Claim And Disqualification. And You Can Call The Opec Executives Any Time For Confirmation In Case
Of Any Form Of Doubt
Do Accept Our Hearty Congratulations:
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Anti-fraud resources:
