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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 of your funds" (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.
- inquirydept5@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: HM Treasury <forum@bengovdip.xyz>
Reply-To: inquirydept5@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2016 07:13:09 -0500
Subject: Regarding your Entitlement!
The Correspondence & Enquiry Unit
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Reference No. HMTBTRN-27USP-HMTPMY27-25116
Regarding your Entitlement.
This Entitlement is granted under Article 30(2)(c) of Council
Regulation (EU) No. 267/2012 ("the EU Regulation").
The Treasury has issued a checklist to help determine what
information you should provide for transfer of your funds.
After a successful application and approvals within the legal
ambit,Your entitlement has matured to be paid to you.
Your payment has been delayed in the past but the rule of law has prevailed.
We are settling with the Bank to develop an account with linked a
BANK CARD extension for withdrawal sent to you within 48 hours.
For further information about your payment Kindly communicate with the
Permanent Secretary.
Contact the Permanent Secretary below:-
Name: Sir Nicholas Macpherson
Email: inquirydept5@gmail.com
Thanks
J. P. Noah
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF UNCLAIMED ENTITLEMENT
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
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Anti-fraud resources:
