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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:
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Eric Goodman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ericgoodman2018@rediffmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2018 16:44:23 -0800
Subject: ATTN: Sir/Madam
Swift Credit Card Payment System
Committee Foreign Payments officer
Foreign Remittance Department
London Scottish Bank.{LSB}
Attention: SIR/MADAM,
Going by series of petition received from International Body on the way your inheritance fund was handled by some correspondence office after Extensive close door meeting with Board of Directors and other Stakeholders in the Government, Subcommittees of the House Of Assembly and the House of Rep to appoint London Scottish Bank to make payment to all unpaid Beneficiarys and contractors.
It was Resolved and Agreed upon that your inheritance Fund would be released on a special method of payment, which tag Name Reads SWIFT CREDIT CARD, where beneficiary(s) would be able to withdraw their funds from any ATM Machine/Banks worldwide. This method of payment is designed by the Government to avert fraud perpetration or stoppage of fund by Some Agencies either through Anti Terrorist Certificate or other certificates, this Swift Credit Card would be issued to you upon meeting with the Bank Requirement, and this office has Been Mandated to take charge of the Issuance of the SWIFT CREDIT CARD.
You are therefore required to re-confirm the following:
1) Your Full Name:
2) Your Address:
3) Contact Telephone and Fax number:
4) Your Next of Kin & Date of Birth
Be informed that your fund has been called back and it’s now in a suspense account here in Our Bank. A new Account has to be opened in your Name before the Swift Credit Card is issued. Waiting for an urgent response call this office as soon as you get this massage
Yours Faithfully.
Mr Eric Goodman (GCFR)
Swift Credit Card Payment System
Committee Foreign Payments officer
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Anti-fraud resources:
