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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- 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.
- sachsm016@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. JEANNE DOTSON" <franky@tvnetwork.hu>
Reply-To: sachsm016@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:34:49 +0200
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY!!
--
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR
INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR
PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU
IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT FUND.
AFTER THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S MEETING HELD TODAY HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA,
WITH PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA, YOUR NAME COMES UP AS ONE OF THE
BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTACT /INHERITANCE FUND THAT ARE YET TO RECEIVE
THEIR FUND. THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN MANDATED TO TRANSFER THE VALUED SUM
OF 5.2 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS,
AS INITIAL PAYMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 2016. SO, YOU HAVE TO GET BACK
TO THIS OFFICE WITH BELOW DETAILS.
YOUR FULL NAME..........
YOUR PHONE NUMBERS....... AND FAX NUMBER IF ANY..........
ADDRESS WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE ATM CARD.......
YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION.......
BANK NAME:........................
YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER....................
BANK ADDRESS......................
SWIFT CODE IF ANY........................
CONTACT PERSON: Mr. Michael Sachs (ATM DIRECTOR)
EMAIL: sachsm016@yahoo.com
Tel: +27731587801.
YOURS FAITHFULY,
MRS. JEANNE DOTSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
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Anti-fraud resources:
