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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- epps430@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: fidelis ahmed <bccfidelis@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:06:42 +0100
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD COMPENSATION PAYMENT USD$1.500,000.00
UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK.
Dear Sir/Madam
This is to official inform you that we have been having a meeting for
the past Six (6) month which ended three days ago with (IMF)
International Monetary Fund President Hon. Mrs. Christine Lagarde and
(ECOWAS)Economic Community of West African States in the meeting we
discussed on issue concerning Scam victim and Compensation procedure
which we have concluded.
Therefore I am writing to notify you that United Nation have agreed to
compensate you with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars (USD$1500,000.00) this also including international
business that failed due to Government problems etc. We have arranged
your payment of USD$1500,000.00 through MasterCard ATM which is the
latest instruction from the World Bank President Dr.Jim Yong Kim.
For the collection of your MasterCard ATM contact barrister Frank
Williams and forward the following details to him.Tel.+22968471146
email address,
epps430@yahoo.com
1. Full Name:.........
2. Country:........
3. Delivery Address:..........
4. Telephone:........../ Occupation...........
5. Your Age....../Sex..........
6: Your Nearest Airport.........
Telephone
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Anti-fraud resources:
