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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:
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "LUCAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <raisibemorthined@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 18:02:28 -0400
Subject: DID YOU AUTHORIZE THE MESSAGE??
Fr: Raisibe Morathi
Chief Financial Officer
NEDBANK GROUP INVESTOR RELATIONS
Dear
Did you authorize one Mrs. Ann Kerr, to meet us as your representatives, with documents of claim purported to have been signed by you for the released of
your payment of US$7.5M Your fund has been approved for Payment by the Ned Bank waiting for final endorsement/clarification.
Reconfirm back to us to avoid any irregularities, as your fund is now due to be transferred to Mrs. Anna Kerr whose information has been withheld until final
authorization by you. The Auditor General of the bank and the international monitoring fund (IMF) has given us a mandate to pay all local/foreigners there
outstanding payment. I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be release to you as soon as we hear from you.
We hereby officially notify you about the present arrangement to pay Mrs. Ann Kerr your over due contract/Prize/inheritance fund. The World Bank has been
notified about this payment arrangement as to enable all beneficiaries to receive their fund without any interference.
Do re-confirm the below Bank Details
Bank: Citibank N.A.
City/Country: New York - U.S.A.
SWIFT TID: CITIUS33
CHIPS ABA : 0008
FED ABA : 021000080
Name Account: Ann Kerr.
Account #: 36240424
This fund will be transfer to this account within 72 hours and we advice you get back to us for confirmation address information to:
Mr Raisibe Morathi
tel/fax: +27866126974
Yours truly,
Mr. Simon Lucas.
(Assistant)
Contract/ Inheritance/ Cash Prize Award/ Payment
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Anti-fraud resources:
