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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- office_info222@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Review Department Of ICPC <info@f-m.fm>
Reply-To: office_info222@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 17:43:01 +0100
Subject: Foreign Operations Department
--
ICPC NIGERIA (Anti-Fraud Unit)
Head Office: Plot 802, Constitution Avenue
Zone A9 Central Area Garki Abuja.
P. M.B 535
Nigeria
We officially write you to confirm the payment instruction of unclaimed fund.
The US,Europe and all over the world are majorly concerned in the said
unclaimed
fund. You can go to the web site link (http://www.locatecash.com)
type in your
names to know if you have been updated into our data base, if not
contact us as
soon as possible through this email: (office_info222@yahoo.co.jp). Your
compensation fund amount is US$5M. And its scheduled to be transferred to you
via ATM CARD/BANK WIRE/DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY.
Please provide the below requested details upon your reply..
1) Your full Name:
2) Your full Address:
3) Your Contact Telephone and Fax No:
4) Your Profession, Age and Marital Status:
5) Any valid form of your Identification/Driven License:
Chief Financial,
Hon John Obi
Foreign Operations Department
International Monetary Fund.
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TINP http://www.tinp.net.tw/
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Anti-fraud resources:
