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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:
- "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: dr-kwadwo@w.cn
Reply-To: dr.kwadwo@w.cn
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:57:08 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Swift Deal
Dear Partner,
I guess this letter may come to you as surprise since I had no previous
correspondence with you.
I am the Chairman of the Electoral Commission Ghana (EC). I got your
contact in my search for a reliable person to handle a very confidential
transaction involving the transfer of the sum of $14.500.000 Dollars
(Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) the above
fund is not connected with arms, drugs or money laundering. It is the
product of an over invoiced contract awarded in 2008 by (EC) to a foreign
company for the supply of electoral materials that were used for
conducting the 2008 elections.
The contract has long been executed and payment of the actual contract
amount has been made to the foreign contractor leaving the balance of
$14.5 million which my colleagues and I now want to transfer out of Ghana
into a reliable foreign account for our personal use.
As civil servants we are not allowed to run foreign accounts.
Hence we have chosen to front and support you as the beneficiary to this
funds. If you are interested in the proposal kindly get back to me by
sending me your letter of acceptance along with your direct telephone and
fax numbers, we have decided to share the money in the following
percentage, 60% for us 30% for you the account owner and 10% for all local
and international expenses that may arise in the course of this
transaction. Further details about this transaction will be discussed in
subsequent correspondence.
Note also that the particular nature of your business is irrelevant to
this transaction and this transaction is expected to be concluded within 5
working days since all local contacts and arrangements are in place for a
smooth and successful conclusion of this transaction.
Contact me via email with your contact telephone and fax numbers, so that I
can call you for a discussion.
Thank you as I await your response.
yours faithfully,
Dr.Kwadwo Afari
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Anti-fraud resources:
