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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 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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- verificationsdesk@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Sandra Ford <recrutement@mairie-aubervilliers.fr>
Reply-To: Michael Brown <verificationsdesk@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:39:12 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Atm Card 552
OUR REF:US/UN/NIG/ATM/552
YOUR REF:CLAIMS/ATM/552
This is to inform you that an ATM Card with Number 4278763100030014 has been accredited to you by the United Nation Compensation Trust Fund in conjunction with the Nigerian Government.Your Personal Identification Number is 6776.You are to contact Mr Michael Brown with the information below via email(verificationsdesk@hotmail.com)to enable you begin the delivery process of your card.The ATM Card Value is $1.4Million USD.
Your are advised to provide us with the following information
Full Name
Address
Phone Number
Country
Occupation
Sex
Age
Regards,
Mrs Sandra Ford
Claims Officer
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Anti-fraud resources:
