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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "million 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- danieledward5051@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Susan" <susan_020w@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Susan" <unitednationworkers@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:12:05 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your Attention Is Needed!
 Your Attention Is Needed!
Your email address has won you (Three Million United State Dollars) $3 million dollars cash, a reward from the United Nations 2014 charity program worldwide. The payment finally arranged and UBA BANK will send you ATM VISA CARD to enable you withdraw the whole funds.
You are advised to contact and open correspondence with your program payout sector Mr. Daniel Edward. provide him with your delivery information such as House address, phone number and your full name on which he will register your ATM VISA CARD for immediate delivery to your house address.
Contact person: Daniel Edward
Email:{ubabankgroup@safrica.com}
Private Email: {danieledward5051@yahoo.co.uk}
Telephone: +229 68225243
In my concerted efforts to actualize your fund payment with the convenient time schedule I have concluded delivery arrangement with DHL to oversee the delivery of the ATM card to your doorstep within 48hrs. Be informed that delivery charges of your ATM card will be deducted from our account with DHL, so you do not need to pay for delivery charges.
So do contact the bank for your $3 million dollars Atm visa card.
Best regards,
Mrs. Susan.
>From United Nation Organization.
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Anti-fraud resources:
