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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:
- "christinecumming@ymail.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.
- +447011149205 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "JULINA.S.JOHNSON(YOUR PROJECT ASSOCIATE)" <julinasjohnson@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: christinecumming@ymail.com
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2012 23:56:15 +0100 (CET)
Subject: READ THIS LETTER AND REPLY IMMEDIATELY
DEAR BELOVED FRIEND CONGRATULATION
I just received a call from the Director in charge of international
payment/funds wire transfer department,Broadway bank p.l.c London,U.k
that the funds transferred to your bank account was returned
unsuccessful/invalid due to wrong bank account details,
The total amount transferred to the bank account via online funds wire
transfer was USD$9.5million,your inheritance compensation funds.
Therefore call the Director (Christine Cumming) on Tel:(+447011149205)
email him at:(christinecumming@ymail.com)
and give him your correct bank account detail information and phone numbers
So the Information you are required to reconfirm to the Director are as Follow.
(1)Your Full Name=============
(2)Mobile Phone Number======
(3)Current Home Address========
(4)Occupation=================
(5)Fax Number================
(6)Country====================
(7)City=====================
(8)Full bank account details===========
(9)Your personal I.D card==============
Use this code (XA-85650x) as the subject of your mail to them for
identification.
Yours Truly.
Ms.Julina.S.Johnson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
