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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:
- "million us 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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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: Capt Mayer Hartmann <captainmh@live.com>
Reply-To: hcaptmayer@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 08:12:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Friend!!
Dear Sir/mam
I want to trust you with this confidential proposal. Before i
continue, let me introduce myself to you, I am Captain Mayer Hartmann
the commander of the Special N.A.T.O coalition force with the United
Nation troops in Iraq, on war against terrorism.
My country is Germany.I have now in my possession the sum of Six
million US Dollars which was recovered from one of our raids on
terrorists camps here in Iraq.
These boxes of money have been deposited with the RED CROSS OFFICE here
in Baghdad As a diplomatic luggage for safe keep and to make contacts
for its proper use. As the team leader it is under my power to approve
whoever comes forth for this money.
So i need someone i can deal with on trust and that is why i contacted
you. So if you accept, I will put you forward as the beneficiary/owner
of the funds and then move the money to you. As military personnel i
cannot parade such an amount or carry it to my country so i need to
present someone as the beneficiary.
I just need your acceptance and all is done. I have a 100% authentic
means of transferring the money through diplomatic courier service to
you where arrangements will be made to proceed to your country.
Once i confirm your interest to my proposal, and your positive reply i
will proceed to register your name as the beneficiary. This money is my
life and i am willing to give you 30% of the total sum when the money
is delivered to you. I wait for your response so we can proceed
immediately. In less than 7days the money should be in your safe
custody.
The only telephone access we have is radio message which is for our
general use and is being monitored; therefore all communication will be
via email till we finish our assignment here and fly straight to your
country to meet you. Thank God that the new President Elect,
Barrack Obama whose keen interest is to Call us back home soon."
Regards
Capt Mayer Hartmann
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Anti-fraud resources:
