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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)
- "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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- traorenatu@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: roland blaise <roland10049b@msn.com>
Reply-To: roland_blaise500@voila.fr
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:56:35 +0200
Subject: PLEASE TOOK THIS SUM AS YOUR COMPESATION REMAIN BLESS AND IS YOUR LUCK
Dear Friend.
Please I Do Not Know If It is My Good Friend That Try To Help On My Business Transfer Of U$3.5 M Dollars, Because I Lost His Contact In Case If It Not Him , It Is Your Luck Follow Up And Collect The Money
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund.transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from China as you are aware,Presently i'm in China for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. I want you to contact Mrs Natu Traore on the information below: Ask him to send to you the total sum of($900,000.00) US Dollars
which I kept for your compensation.So contact her immediately on his e-mail:(traorenatu@yahoo.com) and also try and call her as soon as you receive this mail +22677035798. in order for him to answer quickly because she is always in the church and send him the below informations for him to be sure.
1.YOUR FULL NAME:_______
2.YOUR ADDRESS:_________
3.YOUR AGE:______________
4.YOUR COUNTRY:_________
5.TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____
6.OCCUPATION:___________
Regards,
Roland Blaise
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Anti-fraud resources:
