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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Charles P. Retting" <dr.geofferygreener01@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:
attention beneficiary
Here is Internal Revenue Service
I am here to inform you that your email was found on one of the
Winning beneficiary, we also have a fund brought by the United States.
We have decided to pay your funds through (ATM VISA Card) This
arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank, United Nation
and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the world.
The ATM VISA Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD
WIDE, The ATM VISA CARD is credited with the sum of $17.5 Million
united states dollars, it is already loaded in the Gold Master Card
which you can use to access your fund in any ATM Stand/location
worldwide and we have concluded delivery arrangement with the below
courier services companies and their delivery time is stated below
We want you to get back to us with the following details:
Your full name:
Your Current Phone Number:
Your country and City:
Your Home Address:
Occupation:
1) UPS=5hrs/$200
2) FedEx=8hrs/$150
3) DHL=12hrs/$100
To enable the delivery proceed immediately today, Note that you will
be liable to pay the delivery fee of your ATM VISA Card with any of
the above courier company of your choice before the delivery will take
place to your destination address
Looking forward to hear from you
Mr Charles P. Retting
contact me through this email:
redacted@domain.name
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Anti-fraud resources:
