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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. K. Branco" <finalpaymentreleaseoffice1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: revdrkbpersonal@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:16:43 +0100
Subject: NEW ARRANGEMENT.....
Dear friend,
I hope this mail gets to you and your family in good health and if so
glory be to God. I write to inform you that i have perfected
alternative arrangement for your Over Due Inheritance funds
worth US$45M Dollars to be transfer via western union money
transfer $30,000.00 dollars in three transactions of $10,000 .00
dollars per day OK?
In this regards, you are advise to forward the following details which will be
use to register your receivers information with the western union and
once i receive them i shall revert back to you with further directives
which will enable western union agent start the processing of the money
transfer to you.
1. Receivers Name
2. Address
3.Telephone number
4. Scan copy of ID Card
5.Occupation/ Position
Finally,I also attached here my official working ID Card for your
personal preview and record and i strongly advise that you keep this
information's strictly confidential to avoid identity thefts by
impostors OK??
Waiting urgently for you
God bless us
Yours trusted friend
Dr. Kelvin Branco
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