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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "pchclaimdept@zemra.org" (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.
- +447011137624 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Publishers Clearing House <lafarga@institucio.org>
Reply-To: pchclaimdept@zemra.org
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:01:28 +0100
Subject: Congratulation
Publishers Clearing House United Kingdom
Mailing Address: 101 Queens Circle,
London W37AV (United Kingdom).
Tel: +447011137624
ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR: Mr. William George
Email: pchclaimdept@zemra.org
We are please to announce to you that your email address emerged along
side 4 others as a category 2 winner in Publishers Clearing House
Consequently.You have won One million dollars and therefore been
approved for a total pay out of One million dollars ($1,000,000.00USD)
The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:
Winning Numbers: 47-14-34-85-67-32
Ticket Number: FL 754/22/76
Winner you are to send the details below to process the immediate
payment of your prize.
=======================
1. Name in full:
2. Address:
3. Sex:
4. Nationality:
5. Age:
6. Present Country:
7. Cell Phone Number:
=======================
Once Again Congratulation.
Publishers Clearing House
LOTTERY NOTIFICATION, INTERNET PATROL SERVICE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
