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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)
- "await your urgent response" (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.
- e-citicbk@163.com (163; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "E-CITIC INT'L AUDITING LTD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <e-citicbk@163.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2015 08:31:11 +0800
Subject: FINAL NOTICE: YOU ARE AMONG THE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS FOR SETTLEMENT
Reply to;
Email: e-citicbk@163.com
GLOBAL FOREIGNERS AND CONTRACTORS SETTLEMENT CENTRE.
Suite 207, Xin Hue Drive,
Off Sichuan East Road,
Shanghai China
Compliments of the day,
My name is Zara Wang. Currently i'm the Audit Manager assigned to Asia Foreigners And Contractors Settlement Centre. Your email is among the foreigners and contractors on withheld payment list. You are on Batch "B" list and therefore eligible to the sum of $10m (Ten Million US Dollars Only).
I will direct you to the paying bank officer after reconfirming the following details from you;
FULL NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
MALE/FEMALE:
MARRIED/SINGLE:
DATE OF BIRTH:
MOBILE NUMBER:
NATIONALITY:
COUNTRY WHERE YOU NOW LIVE:
I await your urgent response.
Yours Sincerely,
Zara Wang
Audit Manager
Email: e-citicbk@163.com
For; E-Citic International Auditing Ltd.
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Anti-fraud resources:
