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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Gill Richard <alice.bollati@alice.it>
Reply-To: gill.richard38@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2015 22:38:17 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Be Attention
Be Attention
This is to notify you that your fund of USD$2.5 Million has been
forwarded to our corresponding bank in Phnom Penh Cambodia for further
payment to you via ONLINE BANK PAYMENT SYSTEM. This option of online
payment is to avoid more delays and to make sure you receive your
payment without any further delays. You are requested to forward the
below details for submission to the paying bank
YOUR FULL NAME
HOME OR OFFICE ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
IDENTIFICATION
Once the above details received it will be forwarded to the bank and
they will notify you once payment is ready. Waiting your response.
Regards
Gill Richard
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Anti-fraud resources:
