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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 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ban Ki-Moon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un.info001@zeichen.ws>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2015 04:49:39 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT
United Nations Compensation Unit, In Affiliation with World/IMF
Our Ref:U.N/WBO.
Attn: Client
APPROVED COMPENSATION PAYMENT AWARD OF US$3M.
You may not understand why this mail came to you. We have been having a meeting for quit sometime now and we just came to a logical conclusion few days ago in affiliation with the World Bank president. This email is to few well listed people that have been scammed in any part of the world, UNITED NATIONS in Affiliation with WORLD BANK/IMF have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$3 million Dollars each, these includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum and people that have had an unfinished transaction or Inheritance fund that failed due to Government problems or fraud act etc. We found your email in the list of those who are to benefit from these compensation exercise and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed for the release of US$3million by ATM CARD to you for your compensation.
You are advised to contact Rev. Nnamdi J. Okonkwo our paying center as he is our representative. Contact him immediately for your ATM Card of US$3 million Dollars, therefore you should send him the bellow required information:
1. Your Full name:
2. Your Country:
3. Contact Address:
4. Telephone Number:
5. Marital Status:
6. Occupation:
7. Sex:
8. Age:
Therefore you are advised to Contact Rev. Nnamdi J. Okonkwo PAYMENT CENTER with your payment code: 03354 immediately for your ATM Card valued US$3 million at the given address below:
Person to Contact: Rev. Nnamdi J. Okonkwo
E-MAIL: rev.nnamdi@firstemail.eu
Congratulations and I look forward to hear from you as soon as you confirm your approved payment by ATM CARD.
Good-luck and kind regards,
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary (UNITED NATIONS).
UN making the world a better place
http://www.un.org/sg/
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Anti-fraud resources:
