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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 u.s 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "west africa fund monitoring unit" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "westafrifundmonitoring@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "westafrifundmonitoring@live.com" (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: "Mr. John Abu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnabu12@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2013 20:33:49 +0100
Subject: This is to Officially Inform You
Dear Beneficiary
This is to officially inform you that we have written to you before without getting respond from you and we believe that our previous mail did not get to you therefore
we write you again. We are contacting you concerning the release of your inheritance fund / Draft /Cheque /ATM Card which have been delayed for transfer by some
officials who claim to be in position of your fund thereby extorting money from you in one way or the other.
Your Fund has finally been approved for transfer by the West Africa Fund Monitoring Unit. Your fund will be transfer to you via MasterCard ATM/Draft/Cheque/ (any of
your preferred option) which is cash able in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the world.
We hereby inform you that the Inheritance Funds worth of US$7,500,000.00 (Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars) only has been credited in your favour as the
first part payment of your inheritance fund which has been delayed by these officers who claim to be in position of your fund.
Therefore you are warned to stop any further communication with anybody concerning your inheritance fund.
Your fund to be released via MasterCard ATM/Draft /Cheque / (any of your preferred option) in act to uphold the rule of law which we represent.You have to reconfirm
the information’s below for security reasons. The only money you are obliged to pay is $250 dollars which is the cost of the Delivery.
Send them the following information’s of yours for the conclusion of your ATM Card/Draft/Cheque - any of your preferred option:
Reply to the following email address: westafrifundmonitoring@live.com
I repeat reply to the following email address: westafrifundmonitoring@live.com
Full Name:__________
Delivery Address:____
Country:_______
Occupation:_____
Phone Number:____
Age:______
sex:______
Regards,
Mr. John Abu.
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Anti-fraud resources:
