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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- 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.
- ubabankof_a@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Stella Kilonzo" <.Stella@cello.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Stella Kilonzo" <ubabankof_a@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:43:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR VALUE CUSTOMER
ATTENTION DEAR VALUE CUSTOMER,
We have instructed Dr.Mohammed Lamido of the united bank of
Africa ATM CARD department to release your funds in an ATM
Master card to you,contact him immediately and forward the
following details to him.
1.Your Full Name
2.Country Address
3.Telephone
4.Occupation:Age /Sex.
call him on phone +229 61740289 once you forward the
following details to him,he will direct you on what to do so
that your ATM VISA CARD will be register instantly with the
shipping company for delivery with out further delay, note
that you will send the ragistration fee $155.00 to him,
contact him with the below UBA ATM CARD department official
Email:(ubabankof_a@yahoo.com).
Best Regards,
Mrs.Stella Kilonzo
I am waiting for you to send me the western union payment
slip now so we can proceed with your transaction
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Anti-fraud resources:
