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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- 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.
- world0147@hotmail.co.uk (Hotmail, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "WORLD BANK OF ENGLAND THE NIGERIA BRANCH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_bank_0147@mail.kz>
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2012 04:34:59 +0200
Subject: YOUR FUND TRANSFER NOTIFICATION
(World Bank Group Nigeria)
Address: Zaria street, Abuja
Postal Address: P.M.B 0187, Garki Abuja
Mr. Ben Peter
Tel: +2348166977521
Email: world0147@hotmail.co.uk<mailto:world0147@hotmail.co.uk>
Dear Beneficiary
As instructed by the president of Nigeria We hereby apologize for all the
money you have lost in trying to claim your fund we pleaded for your
understanding the action that took place in the processed where by you sent
money to use via western union or money gram if to clear way for you to
get your fund which your Govt did not approve
Today i want to inform you that after the last meeting with the WOLD BANK
OF ENGLAND /CBN/ they have agreed that i contact you and direct you on how
to get your fund to via bank to bank transfer which will not take longer
that 48hours for your fund to be in your account
please kindly contact the WOLD BANK OF ENGLAND transfer department with
your banking information for your the transfer of your fund worth
$5million united states dollars
HERE IS THE DETAILS OF THE INFORMATION NEEDED FROM YOU:
FULL NAME:_____
AGE:______________
SEX:__________________
COUNTRY:____________________
DESTINATION:__________________________
MAILING ADDRESS:___________________________
PHONE NUMBER_______________________________
YOUR BANK NAME_________________________________
BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER___________________________
BANK ACCOUNT NAMES______________________________
A PASSPORT BY ATTACH OR DRIVER'S LICENSE__________
Forward all information to the world bank only :wold bank email:
Thanks for your cooperation.
Mr. Ben peter
(Secretary-general)
world0147@hotmail.co.uk<mailto:world0147@hotmail.co.uk>
E-mail: worldank@worlbankoflondonuk.org<mailto:worldank@worlbankoflondonuk.org>
www.worldbanklondonuk.co.uk<http://www.worldbanklondonuk.co.uk>
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Anti-fraud resources:
