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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "International Monetary Fund (I.M.F)"
<sylvia.ghartey@theseedfunds.com>
Reply-To: richard.andersondepartment@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:24:49 +0000
Subject: Attention!!!!
--
Attention:
Greetings of the day to you and your family. This is to notify you that
it has come to the notice of the Office of The International Monetary
Fund (I.M.F),United Nations (UN) and other world governing bodies about
your outrageous payment to scammers. From our source, we found out that
you have been in communication with hoodlums that has been extorting
money from you endlessly.
I will like to let you know that with the power invested on this great
office by president Donald Trump to ensure that all scam Victims are
paid from America so as to be sure of what ever fees they are paying. I
will advise that you get back to this great office before the end of
today so that we can get your funds transferred into your nominated bank
account.
For now, we will want you to re-confirm the following details below:
1.Your current address
2.Your occupation
3.Your banking details
4.Your Direct Telephone / Fax number.
I strongly advise that you do not forward any of my letters to a third
party to avoid cloning my casual email i.d by scammers/impostors .Also,
do not send money to anybody until your fund is been transferred into
your account. Your urgent response will be appreciated.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Richard Anderson Office of Debt Reconciliation
Washington DC. International Monetary Fund (I.M.F)
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Anti-fraud resources:
