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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 us 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)
- "diplomatjamesbest@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: BANK OF NEW YORK <federalreserve1ny@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomatjamesbest@live.com
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 04:00:33 -0700
Subject: REPLY TO: DIPLOMATS-JAMES BEST, REPL. 17/04/2015
Dear Benefactor.
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your mail and to express our
profound thanks to you for appreciating and accepting the alternative
form of fund transfer we offer to our numerous client which you are
one of them. Hence in respect to your acceptance and preference to the
use of the E-TRANSACT( ATM CARD Banking) Transfer facility, Please
find below the Details and contact information of our subsidiary
company that specializes on the provision of this sort of Financial
Services. Please you are to contact them immediately to expedite your
fund transfer.
The Beneficial Amount involved $3.5Million US Dollars to your sole name.
Diplomat Company Name….. JAMES BEST Financial Services
Email ………………….. diplomatjamesbest@live.com
Tel……………………… +2347036493349
Contact Person…….. Mr. James Best
Please what ever your correspondence with them ensure that you copy
this office and keep us appraised on your communications with them.
Thank You.
BANK FED’S RESERVE
NEW-YORK, USA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
