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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:
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "From: Eropean General Investigation Payment Boards." <d_cp003@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: pee.godwin@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:11:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attn: Sir/Madam Are You Awear Of This Notice From Your Family
Attn: Sir/Madam,
We We write to confirm from you about the affidavit authorization your family lawyer (Mrs Ellis Matthew) sent on your behalf to Central Bank Clearing Office, to release your outstanding payment funds to her bank account on your behalf that you are in the hospital bed condition because of the accident you hard on your two legs after two weeks of your Mother dead due to your health condition.
However we are deeply sorry if this notice from your family lawyer is true news, but we are not sure with the authorization until we receive your immediate confirmation because the Panels Monitoring Outstnding Funds have passing instruction to Central Bank Clearing Office to remit your outstanding payment to Mrs Ellis Matthew bank account your family lawyer as she advised.
Therefore, if you didn't pass such authorization to her on behalf, quickly confirm to federal ministry of financer to urgently stop Central Bank Clearing Office not to remit your outstanding payment funds to Mrs Ellis Matthew bank account without your authorization.
Regards while we wait for your confirmation reply.
J.Y.Thompson
Eropean General Investigation Payment Boards.
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Anti-fraud resources:
