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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:
- "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)
- 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.
- ited1@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <webmail765@mailbox754.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <imfunited1@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:58:45 +0530
Subject: DEAR ATM CARD BENEFICIARY
I wish to use this medium to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Paym=
ent of US$10.5Million dollars from ASIA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for=
onward Transfer to you through an ATM CARD after our meeting with United N=
ations in conjunction with International monetary fund (IMF) supported by W=
orld bank. We the board of trustees of United Nations/IMF have also mandate=
d the Federal Government of India designated bank to send your ATM CARD and=
PIN NUMBER to you which you will use to withdraw all your USD$10.5Million =
in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world at the maximum of $4,00=
0 per day. You are therefore advised to contact the DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OP=
ERATIONS in India with the information stated below: CONTACT PERSON: Dr. La=
rry Lewandowski, THE DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OPERATIONS, EMAIL address : imfun=
ited1@yahoo.com Inform Dr. Larry Lewandowski, THE DIRECTOR OF ATM CARD OPER=
ATIONS that you received a message from United Nation by Mrs Janet Cory in =
London. We wish to use this opportunity to express our sincere apology over=
your plight in the past Years and we wish to assure you of prompt receipt =
of your fund through ATM Card. Thanking you in advance for your anticipated=
cooperation. BEST REGARDS Mrs. Janet Cory, On behalf of IMF/UN.
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Anti-fraud resources:
