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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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Campbell Davidson Mark <andrearonald2001@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <campbell.davidson@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 22:50:37 +0100
Subject: AM CAMPBELL DAVIDSON
Dear Friend
I am contacting you to partner with me to secure the funds kept in the custody of a bank in United States by one of former associate of the late president of Libya who is now deceased. The fund was deposited as an investment Fund in 2007 with an open beneficiary. The funds has been with the bank without anybody coming up for the claims. I honestly seek your assistance to move this fund into your custody for safekeeping as the depositor have known next of kin. If you are interested reply for more details along with your personal details.
Please keep this very confidential. Let me know if you will be of assistance.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Campbell Davidson
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Anti-fraud resources:
