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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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- drmillerwilson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Miller Wilson" <info@mail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: drmillerwilson01@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 06:50:29 -0400
Subject: Life Oppertunity !!
Our ref: INT/FMD/02
Your ref: ATM/OL.I/0064
Following the instructions / mandate given to us by the United Nations in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.)and Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.).
This is to officially inform you that your email address has won the SECOND PLACE winner Grand Prize Draw,sponsored by PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE LOTTERY (PCH).. The total amount to be claim by the second place winner is Three Million Two Hundred United States Dollars($3.2MILLION USD) has been accredited into an ATM MASTER CARD to be deliver to you.Your Personal Identification Winning Numbers is 41-24-30-65-11-00,It is obligated by the federal law that your Security Code should be kept highly confidential, for safety and security reason.
Security Code: Z1192yQQ
Please contact claims officer with the info below
Name:Dr.Miller Wilson
Email:( drmillerwilson@hotmail.com )
Winner you are to send the below details to process the immediate delivery of your ATM MASTER CARD to you.
1:FULL NAME:
2:COUNTRY:
3:DELIVERY ADDRESS:
4:AGE:
5:TELEPHONE:
6:OCCUPATION:
7:SEX/GENDER:
8:PASSPORT COPY:
Once Again Congratulations!!!
Best Regards,
Financial Payment Committee
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Anti-fraud resources:
