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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- mrfredtony0z@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: " United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrfredtony0z@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 07:51:21 +0530
Subject: United Nations Assisted Program
United Nations Assisted Program
Director of International Payment
United Nations Liaison Office
Your ATM Visa Card
Attn: Customer,
The United Nations Compensation Commission payment exercise has deposited your payment of (2.900, 000.00) Two Million Nine Hundred Thousand Euros with Mildred Courier Company, This is regarding the draws the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon organized on his visit to Africa/Asia/U.S.A, to help individuals/Internet Scam victims and charity organization which your Email address was listed among those who are to benefit from the compensation exercise.
The Mildred Courier Company will send you an International Swift ATM Card that has been approved in your Registration Reference N°: FDXB/xxx/100
Contact Mr .Fred Tony
Email: mrfredtony0z@gmail.com
Tel: +918377083167
and provide the below information to post you your ATM Visa Card.
1. Recipient’s Name
2. Your Postal Address:
3. Contact address
4. Country of Origin
5. Telephone N°.
6. Your ID Card Scanned Copy
Best Regard
Mildred Courier Company.
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Anti-fraud resources:
