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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Elder David Archer <ddavida9@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dispatchproject02@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:50:38 -0700
Subject: READ
Attn:
How are you and your Family?I hope you are all in good condition.I am
interested in establishing and operating a very viable business as a means
of investment abroad. I do not know too well on how this is done in your
country,So i will need you to help me in this regard. My preference is any
good profit yielding business and i would appreciate any viable ideas you
could come up with. I will also need you to help me look for properties like
homes and lands for sale as i am proposing to invest $12,000,000.00.I do not
know if you can and will be of help
to me.
Apparently we have not met before,that's very true but I believe we can
build a cordial business relationship for our mutual benefits.I am
presenting this profitable transaction to you for the benefit of both of us
as involved because we have so much to gain at the end of it.
For a brief on my personality; My name is Mr David Archer I base in UK. I
am formerly into private Shipping Business(Archer shipping lines) I am 42
years of age,married with a wife and 2 lovely kids.I dropped my Shipping
business due to some VAT problems with the British Authority.My Desire to
acquire these properties is very urgent as i am planing to relocate to your
country with my family.Please i expect your good and prompt reply so that we
can proceed swiftly. I
will need the information below
1. Name:
2. Residential address:
3. Phone number:
4. Mobile Phone numbers:
5. Occupation:
6. Country:
7. Age:
David Archer
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Anti-fraud resources:
