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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:
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Fathi Ling" <nirmal_nigam@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: foreignpayfud@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 07:37:54 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: HAPPY NEW MONTH
Dear Client,
This is a New Security System to protect our
customers from unauthorized Persons/individual invertible know as
Hackers from accessing customers Account Transfer.
Our system
just detected that your account has been compromised and we had no
choice than to temporarily suspend your Transfer Today.
In order
for your Transfer of $15.5 million us dollars to commence safe transfer
today to your account without interruption, you have to confirm your
account information within 24 hours.
Your Transfer has been
temporarily suspended in order to protect your $15.5 million us dollars
from been compromised by Persons/individual invertible know as Hackers
who place virus on people's transfer.
Your Transfer of $15.5
million us dollars to your account will continue and the limitation will
be lifted after few Security verification process, once you have
updated your account records as required of you, your information will
be confirmed and your Transfer will start to work as normal once again.
This will help protect you in the future. The process does not take more than 24hours.
To
proceed the Security verification process you must confirm immediately
your account detail information again immediately you receive this
e-mail now and follow the instructions that will be required of you
accordingly so that your $15.5 million us dollars is Hacked but remitted
to your bank account of your choice.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Fathi Ling.
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Anti-fraud resources:
