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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "united state dollar" (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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mr.pedroisaac@yahoo.com.my (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Helen Michael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <PedroIsaac@qq.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:45:27 +0200
Subject: From Mrs. Helen Michael
Attention: Beneficiary
Your fund has been credited into an ATM Card ready for shipment, however for avoidance of doubt, we would have appreciate you to come down
To our office here in Africa for the collection of your ATM Card then see every Transparency your self.
But if you are not be able to travel down here then the next option will be shipping the package to you which you will bear the cost of shipment.
The ATM Card is Inter-Switched ATM Card and powered by VISA Card International withdrawal limit is $5,000 per day.
Value in card, $2.5 MILLION USD only as part payment funds owns (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand, United State Dollars Only) you are free to withdraw your funds at any ATM Machine Cash point all over the world.
Endeavor to confirm to us that you have received this important notice by Call or reply email as we are waiting as you contact our shipping manager.
Contact: Rev.Pedro Isaac
Email: mr.pedroisaac@yahoo.com.my
Telephone: +234-8095844069
Yours Sincerely
Mrs. Helen Michael.
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Anti-fraud resources:
