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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- rev.williamuche2012@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev.Williams Uche" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rev.williamuche2012@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:41:13 -0700
Subject: Director ATM Swift Card
Attn:Beneficiary,
Your Payment File has been submitted to this Bank for immediate Payment.Instruction was given and We were Directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Finance and AUDITS and United Nations (UN) and (IMF)to transfer fund of $10.5Million(TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOLLARS) through International ATM VISA Card and deliver to you,which you can use in any near cash point,shopping mall or any bank around you.
You can make withdrawal of money from your International ATM VISA Card from any ATM MACHINE location or outlet of your choice/nearest to you, in any part of the world.Be informed that the office of the presidency on your behalf has secured the approval of your payment of usd$10.5Million(TEN MILLION FIVE Hundred Thousand United State of America Dollars) and also your ATM Debit Card has been upgraded and processed by Access Bank Plc.
we have down-load the $10.5Million into the ATM DEBIT CARD and in your name ,the password of the ATM VISA CARD will be forwarded to you by our Security Mail Express to your door step Not by DHL OR any other Courier Services for security purposes.
You are advice to forward to this Bank your full contact address to enable us ship your ATM CARD payment to you by a Diplomatic Courier Service which will dispatch your ATM Card to you within 48hrs.forward to this Bank this required information below.
Your Full names
Your physical contact,Home or Office address
your occupation
Your Direct Telephone number and a copy of your identity
Home Equity Yes/No
Credit Card Yes/No
Company Name...................
Thanks for your co-operation
Yours Faithfully
Rev.Williams Uche
Director ATM Swift Card
Foreign Operation Payment Due Process Unit
Access Bank Plc
Telephone Line
Direct Email: rev.williamuche2012@gmail.com
Telephone Line +234 7064-3209-03
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Anti-fraud resources:
