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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "officeatmcard27@gmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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.
- officeatmcard27@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Joy E. Teschner" <backup@zuiko-sh.com>
Reply-To: <officeatmcard27@gmail.con>
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 10:27:18 -0300
Subject: RE;GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR ATM MASTER CARD FROM MRS. JOY E. TESCHNER.
Attention Beneficiary,
>From Mrs. Joy, this letter is to notify you about the meeting that has been going on for the pass 1 month which ended today with the Secretary General to the United Nation.
We found your name in our scam list and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed by UNITED NATIONS to compensate you with
the sum of USD$500,000.00 as one of the scam victim.
You are here by advise to forward your information where your ATM MASTER CARD that has been prepaid and ready to be send to you will be deliver.
I shall be waiting for your response upon the receiver of this message.
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Reply To: E-mail officeatmcard27@gmail.com
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Joy E. Teschner
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Anti-fraud resources:
