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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "icbc bank" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: International Monetary Fund Head-Office <mrchiajan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: internationalmonetaryfundheado@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 04:44:38 -0800
Subject: International Monetary Fund Head-Office
International Monetary Fund
Head-Office
Dear: Beneficiary
It has been Resolved and Agreed Upon By Board Members And Directors of
IMF that part payment of your inheritance/contract
fund($10.5millionUSD) be released to you through a special arrangement
by ICBC Bank Of Thailand.The balance will be paid to you as soon as
you confirm initial payment. You are hereby advised to set up on-line
account with the above mentioned bank so that fund will be credited
instantly in your favor. The bank will give you further directive to
access to your on-line account in order to move funds to your
nominated bank account in your destination.
Your transaction has been legitimately approved and with 100%
guarantee to confirm existence of fund provided you take your time to
adhere to every instruction in this email. Submit your payment
reference number:IMFUKXX15,your name and any of your identity to ICBC
Bank of Thailand and the will inform you what it is going to take you
to set up an account with their bank.
Be rest assured that sum of $10.5 million USD will be credited
instantly by British Deposit Insurance Incorporation the moment your
on-line bank account is established and you will be given facilities
to gain access to your online account for withdrawals and transfers of
funds by yourself.You are to expected
Best Regards,
MRS.CHRISTINE LAGARDE
Executive Director
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Anti-fraud resources:
