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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "mreric-moore@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FUNDS RELEASE DEPARTMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fundsrelease_department@secretarias.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:02:55 -0600
Subject: RESOLUTION PANEL ON COMPENSATION PAYMENT
YOUR OVER DUE PAYMENT(S)
RESOLUTION PANEL ON COMPENSATION PAYMENT & OTHER FUND RELATED MATTERS WORLDWIDE
Our Ref: RPCPFRM /MOF/AUD/3309/14
ATTN: Beneficiary
The Audit Department of the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Resolution Panel on Contract Payment, Inheritance claims, Lottery Winnings and other related fund transfer matters, hereby announce the release of Compensation funds to all victims of scams/fraud
overdue payments of claims to beneficiaries; foreign and local Contractors/Clients.
The following is your new particulars: Payment Reference No.-35460021; Allocation No: 674632; and your Certificate of Merit Payment No: 1003. Released Code No: 0763; Immediate Telex confirmation No: 1114433; Trunk box Code No: XXTN013.
Having received these vital payment information, you are to contact the Office of the Audit Department (OAD) with the below details:
1. YOUR FULL NAMES:
2. CONTACT ADDRESS:
3. DATE OF BIRTH:
4. SCANNED COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION CARD:
5. PHONE NUMBER / FAX NUMBER:
6. MARITAL STATUS:
7. OCCUPATION:
8. SEX:
9. NATIONALITY:
10. BANK NAME:
11. BANK ADDRESS:
12. BANK TELEPHONE NUMBER:
13. BANK ACCOUNT NAME:
14. BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER:
15. BANK ACCOUNT SWIFT CODE:
16. BANK ACCOUNT ROUTINE NUMBER:
17. TYPE OF ACCOUNT:
Contact Person: Mr Eric Moore
Email: mreric-moore@admin.in.th
Best Regards,
Hon. Thompson Venno
Paymaster General
For: Committee on Foreign Compensation Payment (Resolution Panel on Miscellaneous Payments)
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Anti-fraud resources:
