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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Bellomann William <sagemacostruzioni@alice.it>
Reply-To: officefiles2015@inbox.lv
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2016 21:07:35 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Your $2.5million payment is "IS" confirm. . !
Attn;
Your $2.5million payment is "IS" confirm. . ! All your winning prize payment
files is ready with my assignment to get the funds transfer into your account
through International Auto Pay Online Transfer. I need your urgent reply,
please give me your info to make the $2.5million payment into your account with
cost of 157 dollars Auto pay deposit form fee, I will make the payment My
Monday Morning as soon as you reply back with your details as required bellow.
First name
Mid name
Last name
Mailing address
Phone
Cell
Street
Zip Code
City
State
Country
Bank name
Acc/ No
Deposit FORM fee is 157 us dollars.
Do get back to me with this required details to enable me make the payment into
your account by Monday Morning, I am waiting for your reply then I will give
you more info to pay the $157 deposit FORM fee to receive your funds soon. I am
waiting for your reply
Sincerely,
Bellomann William
Tell +229 9945 1521.
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Anti-fraud resources:
