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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Colonel Andy Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <col.andyjohnson@voila.fr>
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 14:35:29 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT REQUEST
Dear Friend,
I wish the best in life for you and your family, and I hope you will receive this mail in good spirit and respond quickly with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
My name is Colonel Andy Johnson and I was one the special and secret advisers to former president Charles Taylor of Liberia. My reason to contact you is to assist me in investing the sum of $25.3 million in your country.
Please this money is not loaned or stolen money. It is a hard earns generated money. I acquired this money from the sales of diamond in my country during the rein of our former president Charles Tailor.
If you would help me receive this money for investment in your country, kindly get back to me by sending your contact details as follows:
1. Full Name
2.Address
3.Mobile Tele no
4
Occupation
As soon as you send the above mentioned information and also indicate your interest, I will send you detailed information regarding my proposal.
God bless you as I urgently await your reply,
Colonel Andy Johnson.
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Anti-fraud resources: