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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "TBG-Asia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tbg.asiaoneresources@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2017 18:32:51 -0700
Subject: Re: Transfer
FWD Financial Centre
308-320 Des Voeux Rd Central,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
+852 8170 3340
Dear beneficiary,
My name is Yin-Shing Lam. I am the departmental head of a regional offshore bank in Hong Kong.
I am contacting you for the purpose of seeking your partnership in re-profiling an unclaimed deposit at my place of work. The involved sum is $47 million USD. I need your permission before I give further details on the intended business proposal. There are no risks whatsoever attached.
Get back to me immediately for more details.
Yours faithfully,
Yin-Shing Lam
Head of e-banking Department
****DISCLAIMER****
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate.
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Anti-fraud resources:
