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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",500,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- bnkamericaservices@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Njeri Kamau info officer for Bank of America" <azaberski@nbu.bg>
Reply-To: bnkamericaservices@usa.com
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 18:12:06 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Contact Bank of America for $5,500,000 to your bank account
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Dear Sir/Madam I wish to notify you that due to statutory limitation, we
are unable to make a direct wire transfer to your bank account from our
terminal here.
We have therefore instructed our corresponding bank which is Bank of
America (BOA) in atlanta United States of America to debit our account and
credit you to the tune of US$5,500,000 only your over due sum with us. You
are therefore advised to quickly contact the bank and furnish them with
your bank account details where you want the fund credited.
Bank of America
Contact Person:Michael A. Phillips
Help Desk::951-267-0933
Email:bnkamericaservices@usa.com
Kindly furnish your details as stated below
Full name......................................................
Home address::
Phone numbers::
Country/City::
Occupation::
Nationality::
Once more I wish to commend your mutual cooperation on this transaction
and do be in touch with me as you establish contact with Bank of America
as instructed for the claim of your outstanding payment approved by Asia
UN Ambassador and President Barrack Obama special Adviser.
We await your prompt response
Regards
Dr Njeri Kamau
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