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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sir Moses Lambert <intl.financialcrdtor@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sir.moseslambert@web.co.zw
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:04:23 -1000
Subject: Re: Greetings!
Greetings!
Sir, I am writing this message to inform you that your payment has
been credited through ATM CARD worth the sum of $2.5 million dollars
and it was registered with DHL Courier Company in your favor as one of
the fund beneficiaries listed in the Company; the following is the
Package Number: 00876538 for your account activation for this
inheritance Funds to avoid another hoax like in the time past.
You are required to make contact immediately to reconfirm your
delivery information such as, Full name, Receiving address and
Telephone Number to the payment director: Mr. Arthur Wiener E-mail:
(arthur.weiner@vp.pl)
For more information contact: Mr. Arthur Wiener
E-mail: arthur.weiner@vp.pl
Note the Company has paid for the Insurance & Delivery fee, the only
fee you have to pay is their Security charge $185. Make sure you
indicate the registration Number and ask him how to pay for the
Security fee to get the ATM Card Delivery to your address.
The ATM Card withdrawal PIN-code would be issued to you strictly on
telephone for security reasons. This code is very important once the
card is delivered and it's what you will use to confirm your initial
payment in your local bank machine.
Best Regards,
Sir Moses Lambert
Director, Foreign Remittance Dept.
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Anti-fraud resources:
