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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:
- "hundred thousand u.s dollars" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "west africa fund monitoring unit" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Mike Dino <dipset@cybersmart.co.za>
Reply-To: <win_goal@abv.bg>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2017 14:30:08 -0800
Subject: Re: Be informed ASAP
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to officially inform you that we have written to you before
without getting respond from you and we believe that our previous mail
did not get to you therefore we write you again. We are contacting you
concerning the release of your inheritance/Contract Payment which have
been delayed for transfer by some incapable officials who claim to be in
position of your fund during the past Government,thereby extorting money
from you in one way or the other.
Your Fund has finally been approved for Payment by the (West Africa
Fund Monitoring Unit) Your fund will be transfer to you via MasterCard
ATM which is cash-able in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the world.
We hereby inform you that the ATM card worth Ten Million Five Hundred
Thousand U.S Dollars only, (US$10.5, 000.000.00) has been credited in
your favor as your inheritance/Contract fund.
Therefore you are warned to stop any further communication with anybody
concerning your inheritance/Contract fund.
Your fund to be released via MasterCard ATM in act to uphold the rule
of law which we represent.You have to reconfirm the information's below
for security reasons.
Full Name:__________
Delivery Address:____
Country:_______
Occupation:_____
Phone Number:____
Age:______
sex:______
Waiting for your urgent respond.
Regards,
Dr Mike Dino
Paymaster General of the Federation
Tel: +234 8060305342
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Anti-fraud resources:
