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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "dawsonsusan@blumail.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Treasury Payment Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dawsonsusan@blumail.org>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 01.10.51 +0200
Subject: Urgent Notice (Contact Mrs. Susan Dawson Now)
Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC)U.S Treasury Department's
Attention:,
This email is to notify you about the release of your outstanding payment which has been confirmed to be at the sum rate of $3.500.000.00 USD. A time frame to settle all foreign debts which includes Contract/Inheritance/ Gambling/ Lottery and other international loans. News had it that over the past numerous individual(s) who happen to be impostors (claiming to be reputable individuals, banks and organizations) are claiming to release unrecognized sums of amount via numerous ways. With the help of the (OFAC) U.S Treasury Department's and with the FBI we have noticed that people have been asked to pay outrageous amount of money by these impostors for the transfer of their funds to them. We want
you to stop all communication that has to do with these fraudsters who have been requesting unreasonable sums of money from you to release your funds which they do not have access to.
We have received a mandate and an instruction from the (OFAC) U.S Treasury Department's to commence on the immediate payment of beneficiary funds via the following means (1) Payment via Automatic Teller Machine (ATM card) upon receipt of your ATM card you will be allowed to withdraw $10,000 per day by default and you are given the option to transfer funds from your ATM card to your bank account. 2. Online Banking (Bank to Bank Transfer) to enable you process this operation, $566.00 is required for opening an online banking operation Account, that will enable you get access to your account Online and make transfer of funds yourself to any of your Bank Account across the globe via ONLINE BANKING SERVICE
For international shipping of Visa Card as stated by our company we had to sign contract agreement with DHL for bulk shipping which makes the fees reduced from the actual $566 to $220.00 nothing more and no hidden fees of any sort. (FOR ATM CARD DELIVERY)
You are advised to contact the Department's Officer responsible for the shipping of your ATM Card or Online Banking Service for easy Bank to Bank Wire Transfer of your funds
Department's Officer: Mrs. Susan Dawson
Email: dawsonsusan@blumail.org
Phone: +229-97329165
Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
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Anti-fraud resources:
