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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 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.
- +447087011256 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: FINANCE COMMITTEE <refundingfunds2014@gmail.com>
Reply-To: customerservice2014@Safe-mail.net
Date: Sat, 3 May 2014 23:44:22 +0100
Subject: Reserved Currency & financial Board
--
Good day,
>From the information reaching us this morning from the world Bank
concerning the compensation to all the people who are victim of scam
in Africa 5 years ago. Billions of Dollars is kept aside for 15
VICTIMS and each will be compensated with 5Million dollars only.
Names and contacts was forwarded to me and I was told that some of
them are dead due to some hardship in their part of lives. Please
right now to be accurate and to avoid any wrong communication or wrong
transfer of funds, kindly forward your personal details for the
transfer of your fund. Names,Location,Occupation and Cellphone number
is urgently required.
Thanks
Mr. Danbolo Albert.
Reserved Currency & financial Board
Office Line&+448122053352
Mobile Line..+447087011256
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Anti-fraud resources:
