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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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 company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "infoatmdepartmentcitibank34@gmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- infoatmdepartmentcitibank34@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- his phone no is:(90-9463-1361) and (infoatmdepartmentcitibank34@gmail.com) and the only fee you will send to them is their delivery (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Vera Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <verajohnson540@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2018 02:33:44 -0700
Subject: THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
To: The Fund Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that the IMF just discovered a
US$10.5M owed to you in Africa through the IMF Central Data
System and a part payment of US$5.8 Million has been
approved to be paid to you through an Automated Teller
Machine (ATM) Card.I have registered the ATM CARD with
Courier COMPANY as directed and the delivery will take off
as soon as you contact the bank for more details based on
the agreement with the bank Director, Mr. Paul Lawnson. His
Phone no is:(90-9463-1361) and
(infoatmdepartmentcitibank34@gmail.com)
and the only fee you will send to them is their delivery fee
of $350.00 dollars only.
You can come down here in my country to pick up your card
direct from the bank or alternatively it can be send to your
address through our delivery diplomatic that you will take
care of the courier charge. So contact and ask them for the
payment information to send the $350.00 to them, MOST
IMPORTANTLY: Re-confirm your current delivery address
telephone number and contact him via this email address:
(verajohnson540@gmail.com)
.The amount processed in the
ATM Card is US$5.8 Million and the PIN code is: (0608).
Thanks.
Mrs. Vera Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
