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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- gambo_umar@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Umar Gambo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gambo_umar@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 04:42:03 +0800
Subject: Let's work as one
This letter may come to you as a surprise but for a mutual benefit. I am Dr Umar Gambo the former minister of power and steel in the 4th republic of Nigeria . Currently the adviser to the presidency on inter party relations. During my tenure as the minister two years ago, my ministry awarded a contract to a foreign firm to the tune of $98million for rural electrification project in the part of niger delta, which includes laying of underground cables, supply and installation of transformers and services for a period of 18 months.
This contract was originally meant for $77million but was inflated with $21 million for services of 18 months knowing fully well that it was under warranty from the manufacturing company. Now the duration of the contract is over, the company that executed the contract has since been paid six months ago and the $21million is laying in the coffers of the apex bank awaiting claims.
I am soliciting for your co operation with me to claim this fund and carefully invest it in your country on a 60 30 in our choice business or company which we will agree on in due cause. I will enlighting you more on the transaction when you indicate your interest. Please treat this proposal with utmost respect and secrecy it requires. This transaction is risk free. It will take us 14 working days to claim this fund as I have carefully taken care of the underground works. Have a nice day while I await your urgent response.
Please reply through my private email gambo_umar@yahoo.com.hk
Dr Umar Gambo
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Anti-fraud resources:
