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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.
- 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.
- ailtonbillyjones@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ailton Billy Jones"
Reply-To: <ailtonbillyjones@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2015 23:14:09 -0500
Subject: PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER
Mr. Ailton Billyjones
International Remittance Director
United Bank Of Africa
Re:-Fund Transfer Notice.
Sir Your representative Mr. Bills Edmonton Jr was in the Bank today, As a matter of fact we are going to work according to your instruction since He is ready to pay the $950 on your behalf for the transfer charges, but why we need you to respond back before we release your contract/inheritance fund of USD$10.5 million dollars to Him, but why we need to hear from you before we release the fund to him is that he gave us a new account in Canada.
Here is the new Bank Information we received from Him today.
Name of Bank: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Bank Address: 370 Connell St. Unit 5 Woodstock , New Brunswick , Canada E7M 5G9
Swift Code: CIBC CATT
Account # : 9206598838
Beneficiary: Bills Edmonton Jr.
Please confirm this so that we will finalize your transaction this week since he told us that you gave him $950 to pay on your behalf for the transfer charges.
It is now well with you, If you find any thing confusing do not hesitate to email us immediately.
I await your immediate response via email:Officially Sealed to my email:
ailtonbillyjones@aol.com
Thanks.
Mr. Ailton BillyJones
International Remittance Director
United Bank For Africa
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Anti-fraud resources:
