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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "you have to be fast" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- andreawcollins@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Commercial Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <commercialbnkplc@qq.com>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 18:22:37 +0100
Subject: YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IS ABOUT TO BE CLOSED !!!
Attention : Dear Account Owner..
Good day to you.
This message is coming to you from the Commercial Bank, in regards to your account that is with us worth $980,000.00 which is still pending here in our bank and will be terminated within the next 7 working days if we do not get your response, your account will be closed and your funds confiscated and handed over to the government as abandoned fund you have to get back to us as soon as you get this email for further inquiry.
Contact the accountant to your account Mrs Andrea Wiley Collins, she is the person in-charge of the account you have to be fast with this.
Contact Name : Mrs Andrea Wiley Collins
Contact Email Address : andreawcollins@accountant.com
Note that we have a very limited time on this now would like you to urgently respond to this message with your full name, full address,direct phone number so that we can advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account within the next 7 working days. Once again.
Best Regards
Mr Charles Johnson
Commercial Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
