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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- 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.
- mr.smithcar50lsonscoth@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr. Philip Mike" <philipmike00@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.smithcar50lsonscoth@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 10:31:53 -0700
Subject: Hello Dear
Hello Dear
Hope this meets you in Good health?
This is to inform you that I have deposited your cheque with the united
bank of Africa (UBA) to process it into an ATM MASTER CARD for you. All the
arrangement of processing your cheque of US $25M into Atm Visa card will be
made as soon as you contact the Atm Card Department immediately, This card
centre will send you an ATM card which you will use to withdraw your money
in any ATM machine in any part of the world at the maximum rate of
$30,000.00 us dollars (Ten Thousand United State Dollars) per day.
Therefore do not hesitate to contact UBA BANK and also re-confirm the
following information as listed below
1. Your full Name:_________
2. Your home Address: ________
3. Your Age & Sex: ____________
4. Your Occupation: ___________
5. Your Monthly Income: _______
6. Your Cell Phone: _________
7. Your State of Origin: ______
8. Your Country:______________
9. Your Scan Copy of Identity___
10 Your Contact Email Address:________
11. Your Weekly Income:____________
12. Your next of kin's Name: _________
Forward the above information to: MR. JOHN CHIDI OBINNA (Director of
Customer care Division UBA BANK .Direct line: (+229-68367833)
E-mail :(mr.smithcar50lsonscoth@yahoo.fr)
The Bank has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop
any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid
any hitches in receiving your ATM Card.
Note that because of impostors, The Bank also issued you their code of
conduct, which is (0458) so you have to indicate this code when contacting
the ATM card centre by using it as your subject.
Thanks
Yours Faithfully
Barr. Philip Mike
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