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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.
- 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: "Mr.Philip Lordson" <a.castellaneta@alice.it>
Reply-To: office.filed@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 00:16:08 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Attn/Dear
Hello
We got Alert from the Fedearl Government of Benin to credit your account with
$8Million from Benin reserve account in Bank of America.In our view research
we contacted IMF and US Homland Seucrity about the issue, they confirm it
legal in your name,But $50 is required from you for the (UEPAF) in Benin and
you are given 48hrs to make the payment direct to American Embassy in Benin
with BELOW.After $50 no more fee again:
Receiver:JOSEPH NGENE
Country:Benin Republic
Amount$50
Question:Trust
Answer:God
Thanks for banking with Bank of America
Regard Mr.Philip Lordson.(+229-99616688)
Email:office.filed@yandex.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
