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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Fraud email example:
From: "MADAME ASHA MIGIRO ROSE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drdennis101@e-mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 07:57:18 -0700
Subject: YOUR APPROVED FUNDS. (CONTACT ASAP)
==========================================================================================
FROM: MADAME ASHA MIGIRO ROSE
MANAGING DIRECTOR: UNITED NATIONS FINANCE MONITORING UNIT AFRICA (UNFMU).
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to kindly notify you that UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT has approved your Contract Payment,Inheritance and Lottery Winning Prize Awards
issued in an ATM card for remmitance to you after so many verifications and reports received from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Washington D.C,
United States concerning your unpaid/unclaimed funds worth of (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) US$10.5M in favour of your name.
We have verified your contract/inheritance funds file and found out that you have not received your funds worth $10.5M due to your false dealings
with Non-officials extorting money from you claiming to be what they are not. In this regards the UNITED NATIONS inconjuction with Mastercard International
has assigned a safe MasterCard where your total funds has been programmed for a daily withdrawal limit of $30,000usd per day.
The Security Agencies involved has ascertained that there would be no more foul plays and therefore has assigned a Claims Administrator on your behalf to
give you guidelines till your Mastercard is delivered to you successfully,Below is the details to contact your Claims Administrator today.
Contact Agent's Name: Mr. Dennis Maxwell
Email: drdennis101@e-mail.ua
Do reconfirm your current Delivery details with him and bear in mind the Cost of delivery of $400usd only which is all that is required from you to have your
card delivered to you. He will provide you with all necessary information on how to follow due procedures to receive your Valuable Funds.
Thanks.
Yours Truly,
Mrs. Asha Migiro.
CHIARPERSON UNECA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
