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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:
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- richard_adams102@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?Q?International__Remittance=2c?= <Richard_adams102@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: richardadams102@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:33:06 +0000
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Dear_Customer=2c?=
Dear Customer,
I am Richard Adams ,I am charge of International Remittance Department,AGM,Credit Control Unit. i have this privilege information for you having the sincere wish to help you receive your payment,it is very disappointing and unfortunate that you have not receive your payment until this time.
Therefor Do you promise to pay 20% of your $45.5 million contract money into my escrow account if am able to facilitate the bank to transfer of your $45.5 million contract money into your account within 7 banking working days? Completely legit and not being charged for money laundry or drug money payment.
IF you agree to my term just say YES by replying through my email (Richard_adams102@hotmail.com) with Contact Details to get proceed which I will assure you that is the simplest thing to do in order to get your money without delays or questions asked or encountered
Sincerely yours,
Richard Adams
International Remittance(Credit Control Unit).
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Anti-fraud resources:
