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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Liz Dunu <lizdunu@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: lizdunu00@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 11:28:20 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Hello.....
Hello.....
Please, This is why i contacted you. My father left a huge amount of money before he was assasinated and using my name as the next of kin. I have all the documents intact. He packaged the money in a trunk box and was deposited to a security Company as our family valueable items. The trunk box contains ($5,000,000.00) Five Million U.S dollars and other family valueables. As i am writting you now, my uncles are total threat to my life. They have virtually sold all my late fathers landed properties and chase me out of our family house. I need your assistance to contact the security company and inform them that both of us has agreed to ship the box to your country where my life and the money will be safe. You will also assist me to invest this money in a profitable business that will guide us through in life and i will come to join you as soon as the money arrives your country. Be sincere and send me your full contact information such as you full name and
address, contact telephone number, occupation and more. I am waiting
Thanks and remain blessed.
Liz.
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