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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cashiers check" (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. )
- "ellisyan@rogers.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447024030258 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <ellisyan@rogers.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:58:29 +0900
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Dear Beneficiary
Greetings to you and hope you are doing great. Congrats for being part of the selected few the United Nation has decided to compensate for have fallen a victim of scams.
The Union after a a meeting with several governmetal officials from different country on the 20th January 2011 has agreed to compensate you with the sum of $500,000 USD cashiers check.
We Employ you to contact Mr. Bryan for the collection of your check that I authorized to be released to you as soon as you contact him regarding this issue.
I will like you to please comply with everything Mr. Bryan tells you because he is trust worthy that is why we left the check in his care.
CONTACT: Mr. Bryan Ellis
ADDRESS: 15 Mill mark Groove SE14 6RL, Newcross London.
Groove SE14 6RL,
EMAIL: ellisyan@rogers.com
TEL: +44 702 403 0258
Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your address where you want him to send the draft to you. Thanks and God bless you and your family. I am very busy now I may not reply to any email for some time.
Best Regards,
Mr. Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary-General
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Anti-fraud resources:
