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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM DESK OF POWELL" <info@usa.com>
Reply-To: helen.poweldesk@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 02:47:52 -0500
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION OF FUNDS: 28/05/2013
This is to notify you that the amount of $3,000,000.00 have been approved to you by the United Nations through it World Family Support Program. The HSBC has been made the official Pay out Bank and you are here for advice to process the Transfer of your Funds with HSBC. The Transfer Process to Set up an account with HSBC is Free of Charge, in other to proceed with the Transfer Process you are here by demanded to produce the Following information for Clarification and Authentication to proof you are the rightful owner of the Money.
Your Full Name-
Age-
Occupation-
Home Address-
Work Address-
Telephone Number-
Next Of Kin-
Attach copy of ID card-
Once we have the above information from you we shall proceed with the next process which is to activate an account for you with HSBC (Free of Charge) then we shall offer you the account Internet Login details and the Amount of $3,000,000.00 will be credited to your account, hence you can transfer the Money to your Local Bank Account in where in the World. I await your urgent response
Mr. Powel Kareem
Head of Transfer Operations
HSBC World Wide.
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Anti-fraud resources:
