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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:
- "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "(AX/CS10/TF/DEL) Andrew Goodman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dangotesmithoffice1@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:38:51 +0200
Subject: Sorry for the delay dear payee
Dear Payee
Just this morning i got a call from the head of department regarding your file code (AX/CS10/TF/DEL) for fund release.
We have been making all effort to reaching you to making sure we have the correct address/bank details for the dispatch of your payment to you as approval has been issued from the head of department to release all pending funds.
We apologize for the inconveniences this might have caused you, as you would be required to reconfirm your details and your preferable mode of payment
*)Bank Transfer
*)Fund delivery to your address
*)Or Bank draft in installment to you)
Urgently get back with the requested details together with your code to enable us issue out your file for the release of your fund to you within the next 48hrs.
NB: handling/insurance fee of Us$350.00 is to be paid before issuance of file.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Andrew Goodman.
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Anti-fraud resources:
