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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:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transfer into your account" (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.
- +447024089646 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- bankofficial.service@financier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rhoda Walton" <loitd@cpc.vn>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Rhoda Walton" <bankofficial.service@financier.com>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2014 07:15:43 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Citibank London UK.
This is to officially inform you that we are having our 1st quarter audit, and in effort to make sure all beneficiaries receive their fund before the audit of 1st quarter of 2014.we have decided to help you.
The board of directors of Citibank in conjunction with your bank have reach a resolution that you will be allowed to pay only the transfer fee to enable the transfer processed and then after the confirmation of the transfer into your account you can now make a withdrawal and pay for all the expenses involved
This agreement came as a result of the authority given to us by the United States government, United Nations and the IMF. To make sure no body is own before our end of the year audit. And also terminate the transfer if you did not pay within the stipulated period of time.
This is the only way we can assist you.
Please contact the director of Citibank with your full banking information and she will also direct you how to send the required fee needed for the transfer of your fund.
Name: Mr. Williams’s chukwubueze
Email: bankofficial.service@financier.com
Best regard.
Mrs. Rhoda Walton,
Citibank London UK.
+447024089646
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Anti-fraud resources:
