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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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- +447011150734 (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.
- jeremystock1@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: U N <spciti101@live.com>
Reply-To: U N <scott_peters_citi101@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2014 06:52:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT CHANGE OF ACCOUNT
Attn,
Â
Your contract / inheritance / consignment claims of US$8.3
Million have been detected diverting to an account in Cyprus. We got a report that some
Directors in different organization were remitting fund into any account of
their choice, during our investigation I find below account submitted and the
said MR GEORGE NIKOLAOU standing as your representative to receive your fund.
Â
NAME OF BENEFICIARY: GEORGE NIKOLAOUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
BANK NAME: NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE
(CYPRUS)
ADDRESS: 86 MAKARIOS AVENUE BRANCH 541. 3506 LIMASSOL, CYPRUS
SWIFT CODE: ETHNCY2N541
IBAN NUMBER: CY81006005410000005413367487
Â
Kindly reconfirm if you have order your fund to be remitted
into the above account.
Â
Get back with your full Name, address, cell phone number and
your banking details/ID to commence the process of your remittance today.
Failure to contact this office within 24hrs, remittance will be made to the
submitted account.
Â
Waiting for your urgent response
Yours faithfully
Â
Sir Jeremy Greenstock
Consultant united nation’s office of Legal affairs and
security Dpt.
Mobile no: +44 70111 50734
Email: jeremystock1@consultant.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
