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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- george.hill@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs. Hellen Atta <mrshellenatta@outlook.com>
Reply-To: george.hill@usa.com
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2016 13:23:33 +0100
Subject: ARE YOU NOT TIRED OF PAYING FEE UPON FEE. SOLUTION HAS COME AND VERY URGENT TO HEAR FROM YOU
To: The Fund Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that the IMF just discovered a US$28.5M owed to you in Africa through the IMF Central Data System and payment of US$28.5Million has been approved to be paid to you through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card or Bank Draft.
I have done with all the arrangement as directed and the delivery will take place as soon as you contact the bank department for more details based on the agreement with the bank Director, Rev.Dr.George Hill. His is Email:(george.hill@usa.com)and phone number:+ 234-812-5695-964 Ask Him of your tracking details to enable you track your parcel. You are advice to stop any communication with other Departments until you receive your funds from them.
Or you can come down here in African to pick up your card direct from the bank or alternatively it can be send to your address through our delivery diplomatic that you will take care of the courier charge,and the only fee you will send to them is their delivery fee of $190 dollars only.So contact and ask them for the payment information to send the $190 to them.
So contact and ask them how you will receive your $28.5Million from them, MOST IMPORTANTLY: re-confirm your current delivery address telephone number and contact him via this email address: (george.hill@usa.com).The amount processed in the ATM Card and Bank Draft is US$28.5Million and the PIN code is: (0608).
Thanks.
Mrs. Hellen Atta
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Anti-fraud resources:
