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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "million us dollars" (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: "Mr Braunwalder Robert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <braunwalder.robert01@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 21:26:24 +0300
Subject: Letter Of Intent! (29-04-2015).
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
54 bis, route des Acacias
Case postale 1516
CH-1227 Geneva
Switzerland.
Attention: Beneficiary
Thanks for your email response and I cant contact you if this is bogus email.
I am Mr. Braunwalder Robert of IMF and I was asked to contact you
about your unpaid Inheritance funds and this email was sent to you.
A woman named Virgie Brown contacted us and asked that we transfer
your unpaid Funds sum of $2.5 Million US Dollars and that you are
dead. I am happy that you replied and also this prove to us that you
are not dead.
I have gone through your email and will require you to get me these
detailed information, to be sure we are corresponding with the right
beneficiary and to let you know how to get your funds to you.
Send these detailed information below, and upon the receipt of the
information, will let you know the paying bank you will be contacting
that will handle the final transfer of your funds.
Your Complete names:
Your Occupation/Office address:
Direct Telephone number:
Age/Sex
Best Regards,
Mr. Braunwalder Robert
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Anti-fraud resources:
