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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Tom Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tadamsofnedbank@yahoo.co.za>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 23:40:42 +0200
Subject: Nedbank of South Africa m
NEDBANK
SHOP 51-54, NORTHPARK SHOPPING CENTRE
CNR BURGER & RACHEL DE BEER
PRETORIA NORTH
Phone: +27 619171068
Dear: Valued customer,
Sometime ago, your unclaimed contract/inheritance sum was deposited in our bank by the World Bank and IMF debt recovery unit. After some period of time, the principal sum generated an interest sum of US$ 4.2 Million. Today the board of directors of the bank had revolved to pay you either by the means of ATM DEBIT CARD or NORMAL BANK TRANSFER. Please indicate the method of payment you preferred to be paid and kindly fill out the information below for the purpose of proper verification and cross- examination:
1. Full name:
2. Bank details
3. Phone and fax number:
4. Your currents address:
5. Age/current occupation
6. Attach any form of Identity
Please call me immediately as soon as you receive this mail, call on Tel: +27 619171068 so that we can proceed with the payment arrangement. Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Faithfully
Tom Adams
Head of foreign operations
NEDBANK SOUTH AFRICA
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Anti-fraud resources:
