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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:
- "transferred into your 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: "Ministry Of Finance & Treasurer Dept." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martin.akunnia@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2017 21:43:35 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY!!
RECEIVE YOUR FUND BY WIRE TRANSFER.
We wish to inform you that we have been advised to pay you in accordance with the Legislative Payment Agreement we signed with the Ministry of Finance and the Treasurer Department via MT103 Bank to Bank transfer.
To ensure we carry out our payment procedures accurately and as the bonafide beneficiary, you are required to confirm your acceptance to receive your funds by Wire Transfer and indicate your correct telephone numbers, home address occupation, sex and receiving bank details. Your information will be purposefully used for the processing of your Fund
transfer.
We would like to inform you that our Bank shall be making transfer to your account once we have received your Acceptance Letter with your full details. We can also open a Non Resident Account in your name through which we can make a direct transfer into your bank account through S.W.I.F.T MT103.
Please email to us your complete details and your phone number as well to enable us give you Transfer Alert once your fund is transferred into your bank account.
Your immediate response is very important.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Martin.Akunnia.
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Anti-fraud resources:
