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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- satoshto@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "SATOSHI ITO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <satoshto@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:17:54 -0000
Subject: CO-OPERATION IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
Hello.
My names are Satoshi Ito Corporate Auditor with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Europe). I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of a deceased client with similar last name and an investment placed under our banks management.
During our last annual inspections audit of our bank accounts here in Japan, My department in Europe found a dormant account with an enormous sum of US$10,500,000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) which was deposited by one of your national.
The deceased account has been declared to be dormant since some years and these funds will be confiscated / declared unusable and turned to the Japanese government if the deceased business associates or next-of-kin did not claim this money; since all efforts to trace any living relative of the deceased proved abortive, i have decided that i will have you claim this money as the deceased business associate/or next-of-kin, since you are from the same country and perhaps may have some similarities in certain areas. Everything concerning this transaction shall be LEGALLY done without hitch.
I will need us to work together if you are interested, and I assure you that I will provide all useful information's and documentation that we enable us transfer this funds into your bank account legally without any problem. I would explain better to you upon hearing from you as I wait to hear from you soon. Kindly write me directly with your contacts on my private email: satoshto@yahoo.com.hk
Satoshi Ito
Corporate Auditor
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited Head Office
E-Mail: satoshto@yahoo.com.hk
http://www.smbcgroup.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
