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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:
- "cashier's check" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: RICHARD K NICHOLAS <nrichard77777@gmail.com>
Reply-To: RICHARD K NICHOLAS <richardn777@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2015 17:58:19 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your Cashier Check US$1.2 Million
May I Have Your Attention, Please?
I was instructed by my Boss Dr. Johnson Smith to send you a Cashier's Check worth US$1.2 Million for your past effort and attempt to assist him transferring some funds despite the transaction failed somehow.
However it's my wish to inform you that my Boss Dr. Smith has succeeded in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner and he has written the Cashier's Check of US$1.2 Million for your compensation.
Therefore you are to re-confirm the below details for the shipments.
1: Your full name..........
2: Your delivery address........
3: Tel phone number............
4: Email address..........
I'll wait to hear back from you.
Warm Regards
Mr. Richard K. Nicholas
+229 68 63 23 83
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Anti-fraud resources:
