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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- markcharles40@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mark Charles. <sysadmin@shpdhoa.org>
Reply-To: <charlesmark2020y@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2021 22:05:36 -0700
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY,
DEAR BENEFICIARY
APPLICATION OF CHANGE OF ACCOUNT
WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE RECEIVED THE BELOW NEW ACCOUNT YOU PROVIDED TO THIS OFFICE THAT YOUR OLD ACCOUNT HAS A PROBLEM.
THEREFORE, WE ARE USING THE BELOW ACCOUNT TO CREDIT YOUR US$25.5M AS YOU HAVE SUBMITTED TO THIS OFFICE. THE CREDITING BANK WILL BE INFORMED OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
DO CONFIRM THE ACCOUNT ONCE MORE IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION BELOW AND FILL THE FORM ATTACHED WITH THIS MAIL. YOU CAN ALSO REPLY ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL BOX: MARKCHARLES40@AOL.COM
DRESDNER BANK AG ( NEW NAME COMMERZBANZ AG)
FRANKFURT/MAIN-GERMANY
IBAN - DE5050080000664262700
SWIFT/BIC - DRESDEFF
ACCOUNT - 664262700-400 / USD
ACC. OWNER: WOLFGANG ENGELMANN
WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR RESPONSE.
YOU ARE ADVISED TO RESPOND TO THIS MAIL URGENTLY OR WE WILL TRANSFER THE FUND TO THE ABOVE ACCOUNT AS DIRECTED.
REGARDS,
CHARLES MARK
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, NIGERIA
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Anti-fraud resources:
