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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- tntcompany33@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Paul Franklin <officefiless@superposta.com>
Reply-To: tntcompany33@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 May 2012 11:57:19 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEPOSITED YOUR ATM CARD WITH TNT DELIVERY COMPANY
Attention Dear Friend
This is to let you know that your ATM CARD containing the sum of $2.2Musd with the PIN NUMBER 54711 has been deposited with the TNT DELIVERY COMPANY for them to deliver it to your address.
I deposited the Atm Card on Friday last week with the TNT COMPANY DIRECTOR Mr Jim George.
All you need to do right now is to contact the TNT COMPANY on their contact information and reconfirm to them your delivery address for an accurate delivery and also you will be entitled to pay them the sum of $59Usd which is their delivery fee.
Note that apart from the $59Usd that there is no other fee that you would pay as i discover from the COMPANY MD.
Contact them immediately through this email address (tntcompany33@yahoo.com) and ask them to give you the name where to send the money for the delivery.
Best Regard
Mr Paul Franklin
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Anti-fraud resources:
