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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:
- "application fee" (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. )
- "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: "FEDERAL RESERVE BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sandrawilson34345@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:06:34 +0100
Subject: Re: ATTNE:BENEFICIARY!!CONGRATULATIONS!!PAYMENT OF $22.5M IN ATM VISA CARD .excbi
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
Tel:+(646-628-9389)
Atten:Beneficiary,
The Federal Reserve Bank hereby contact you in regards to the ongoing transaction of $22.5m.This is to notify you that we have limited time to process and conclude the transaction AND its important you note that the said funds of $22.5m allocated to you has already been loaded in ATM VISA Card and will be delivered to you by the affilliate courier company once you pay the delivery fee of $175.Note that the ATM VISA card can be operated in any ATM Machine all over the world and you will be provided with a 4 Digits PIN CODE.
You are to reconfirm the following under listed details:
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
AGE:
SCANNED COPY OF IDENTIFICATION:
As a matter of urgency and in other to avoid the delay for the delivery of the card,you are to send the $175 to the affiliate courier company with the details below:
Name of Receiver:STEVE IBIZA
City:Lagos
Country:Nigeria
Zip Code:23401
Amount Sent:$175
10 Digits Mctn Number:
Do confirm all these information to us with immediate effect and the Atm Crad will be delivered to you in 24hrs.
Awaiting your urgent response.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:YOU ARE TO SEND THE $175 APPLICATION FEE IMMEDIATELY.
Scot Anderson,Senior Personal Adviser
(Janet Yellen)
Chairman Board of Governors,
Federal Reserve Bank
Tel:+(646-628-9389
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Anti-fraud resources:
