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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Paul Anderson <paul.anderson79@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Paul Anderson <paul00ander@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 06:34:41 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: REPLY
 Hi
I am a Account Officer; I insight intellect and focus on change
investment approach to spot opportunities that others may not see. My
research is meticulous some would say painstaking; but it's this
analytically rigor that creates advantage for my clients. I strive
always to be a step ahead of market movements, industry development and
lifestyle changes. I have a very important request that made me to
contact you but this proposal however is not mandatory nor will I in any
manner compel you to honor it against your will. In 2004, some huge
amount of money was fixed by my client; he was planning to invest the
money in real estate business.
My client had some health related issue, and later died of cancer in
2008 without using these funds in question; but nobody has the
information’s about this investment fund except me and my late client.
Two weeks ago, my insider in the bank where this money is deposited,
told me as the fund manager of the deceased I should provide his next of
kin or foreign business partner otherwise the bank will convert the
funds into government treasury. This prompted me to run a search again
to locate someone who is capable of handling this business/deal with me.
If you’re interested in claiming these funds with me.
Get back to me once you read this mail Paul.
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Anti-fraud resources:
