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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ben carson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bca72757@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2017 20:34:19 -0000
Subject: Your Overdue Payment
Hello:
Following recent review of all foreign overdue payments / Inheritance
funds held in Africa and Europe Countries. UNITED NATIONS ON DEBT
PAYMENT has ordered for all Investment funds, overdue contract
payments and Inheritance funds held in Africa and Europe including you
to be paid by ATM PREPAID CARD (e-payment system) through Global
Inter-Switch System .
Total amount approved for payment by ATM Prepaid Card is $2,500,000.00
USD, and the rest will be paid at a later date by bank to bank
transfer to your account.
Please send details of your fund and your full names and shipping
address where you want ATM Prepaid Card deliver to you after process
by DHL Courier service. And make sure you send your Cell phone number,
office and home phone numbers for urgent communications and your
alternative email address on top of your smart phone if any so that
Global Inter-Switch System can use it and reach you at all time.
Thank you,
Ben Carson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
