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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:
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "OFFICE OF PRESIDENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markjohnsonoffice444@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2017 23:41:20 +0100
Subject: SWIFT CREDIT CARD (ATM)
Attn:
It was Resolved and Agreed upon that your Inheritance/Contract Funds would be released to
you on a special method of payment which tag"SWIFT CREDIT CARD"you are Advised to Re-
confirm ,
YOUR NAME:
ADDRESS:
NEXT OF KIN:
PHONE:
OCCUPATION:
TO CLAIM YOUR FUND.
REGARDS
MR. MARK JOHNSON
CHAIRMAN PAYMENT APPROVAL
FROM OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
AND INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
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Anti-fraud resources:
