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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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sonia Harrison <mrs.sonnia@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mss.sonia@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 8 May 2014 21:31:32 +0000
Subject: Attention: My dear Friend,
Attention: My dear Friend,
I was waiting to hear from you since so that I can send your Fund Bank
Cheque to you. I want to inform you that your Fund Bank Cheque
compensation the sum of ($500,000.00) which was instructed to be given
to you by your partner for your past effort in the transaction. My
dear your Fund Bank cheque is safe and i am waiting to hear from you
so that I will release your fund Bank Cheque to you. Now send me your
Address information so that I will go and post your fund Bank Cheque
immediately through the (DHL) or (FedEx) delivery service. Reconfirm
to me your address information below:
Your full name:.......
Your address:.........
Your country:.........
Your phone number:....
Once I hear from you I will go and send your Bank Cheque to you
immediately. call me as soon as you received this message
I am urgently waiting to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Mrs Sonia Harrison (Secretory).
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Anti-fraud resources:
