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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- 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: "MRS. ELIZABETH JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <george.osborne@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 00:24:49 -0700
Subject: IMMEDIATE ATM PAYMENT ORDER
Economic and social council
Directorate of International
Payment and transfers
>From The Desk of:
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson
OUR REF: SNT/FRN/09
OBERTHUR C.S. 07 4084 18/11 3147
Dear Fund Beneficiary,
This is to officially inform you that an ATM Card worth (Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) $3.5million dollars has been accredited
in your favor, find below your personal identification number is 0010345742.
You are also to know that the maximum withdrawal amount of US$4,000.00 (Four Thousand United States Dollars) is permitted daily.
So contact verification officer;
Name: Mr. George Osborne
Position: ATM Consultant
Email: george.osborne@yandex.com
Phone: +229-96758309
With the following information;
1. Full name
2. Phone and fax number
3. Address to send your ATM Card
4. Your age and current occupation
5. Attached copy of your identification
N/b: make sure you complete the form with your correct information.
For further information please contact the undersigned on telephone below.
+229-967-58309 between 8:00am – 4:00pm (GMT).
Best regards,
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson
(ESC Board Director)
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