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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- pat.brown119@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: MAIL INFO <mukesh.sunil@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: MAIL INFO <pat.brown119@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:08:55 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR RETRIEVE FILE PAYMENT
To Whom It May Concern
YOUR RETRIEVE FILE PAYMENT
We are sending this official letter to inform you that your Payment file valued at US$2.8 Million was successful recovered and through our investigations we find out that you has made some unnecessary Expenses which was not recognized because you go through with the fake office and our authorities was not aware.
However you were lucky to be in our list because we have other reporters but their file wasn't found therefore after the meeting held this morning with the Ministry of Finance we have concluded / terminate to release your fund through RBI Foreign Remittance Unit as agreed with the Board of Directors.
Therefore contact the Foreign Remittance Unit Reserve Bank of India RBI to handle your transaction accordingly:
Contact person: Mr. Allen Wilson
Foreign Remittance Unit
Contact Emails: (pat.brown119@rediffmail.com)
Phone: +919654256536
NOTE: You are required to provide the following data’s for the procession of your Western union GOLD CARD.
Name................
Address................
Country...............
Phone................
Age.................
ID.................
Your direct contact phone number
Your Personal details
Kindly acknowledge the receipt of this email and contact the bank immediately.
Yours sincerely
SIR. Mukesh Sunil
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