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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "atmswift.operation11@outlook.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Prince Mike <prince.mike1975@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Prince Mike <atmswift.operation1@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2015 09:45:16 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS NOW VIA ATM SWIFT CARD.
Attn:my dear friend,
With reference to the information received in respect of your outstanding fund which has been delayed as a result of the fees you were asked to pay,it is very important to inform you that we have arranged your total sum of US$1.5M(One Million Five Hundred United States Dollars Only)
through our ATM Swift Card Payment.
You are required to know that the maximum withdrawal amount per a day is US$5,000.00 (Five thousand US dollars). Therefore Contact the Funds Release and Payment Officer Mr.Stephen Bruce on this Email..{atmswift.operation11@outlook.com} or call him direct on this number +22968546934 for immediate payment instruction.You have to reconfirm your current contact information to his office for onward payment:
Â
Yours sincerely,
Dr.Prince Mike.
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Anti-fraud resources:
