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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:
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "international 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FI RS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <firs1@vivaldi.net>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 13:37:41 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT
BRITISH DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION!
Anex office:Flat1 Larner Court,
Heathstan Road,
London, United Kingdom,
W12 0SF.
FINAL FUND TRANSFER NOTIFICATION!
This is to bring to your notice that the government of Britain has given a
deadline till the 30th of April 2020 to have all outstanding transfers
completed or the beneficiary stand a chance of loosing the funds.
I write to let you know this and also ask that you reply this email
very urgently so that you will be guided and advised on the possible
and fastest means to receive what belongs to you.
Once i hear from you we will authorize the ISLAMIC FIRST BANK IN DUBAI
TO PROCEED WITH THE ONLINE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO MAKE THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND YOUR SELF TO ANY ACCOUNT OF YOUR
CHOICE.
Do well and reconfirm your current information to me so we don't make
any mistake with this process.
Waiting to hear from you urgently.
Yours in service,
Steven Maurice.
Director International remittance department.
BDIC UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
