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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:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "keven david" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kevendavids12@qq.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:38:07 +0200
Subject: READ AND GET BACK ASAP
Hello,
My names are K e v e n D a v i d i w o r k i n t h e b a n k a n d i w a n t y o u t o h e l p m e t o r e l o c a t e s u m a m o u n t o f f u n d s t o y o u r c o u n t r y f o r b o t h o f u s t o s h a r e i n a g r e e d r a t i o . I w i l l u s e m y p o s i t i o n a n d i n f l u e n c e i n t h e bank to effect the legal approval and onward transfer of this fund into your bank account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department.
But you have to promise me that you will not d i s a p p e a r after receiving this money in your account. I am afraid to do this business with someone I personally don't know very well, but I have to trust you and believe that we will use this opportunity to establish good relationship between my family and your family. I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately you receive this fund in your account leaving no trace.
This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and has clean bills of record. Forward your names,mobile phone no to me and contact address to me. I shall give you more details upon hearing from you.
Urgent response please.
God bless you.
Mr.Keven
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Anti-fraud resources:
