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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:
- "million 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: GB AJ <gbakoajiri@gmail.com>
Reply-To: GB AJ <kwezsi2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:25:22 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FUNDS TRANSFER,
Greetings to you, My name is Mr Gbako Ajiri, I am a contract review and award officer in the Republic of Togo. I am contacting you because I need your help to execute a funds transfer through an already awarded and finalized contract here in Togo. In 2010 a contract was awarded to a foreign contractor and the total cost of his contract was USD4.6 Million Dollars and in the process of the contract award, I inflated the contract amount to USD6.6 Million Dollars. The contract has been concluded since 2012 and the Original amount of 4.6 Million has been paid to the contractor and the amount of USD 2Million Dollars is remaining to be transferred and now I want you to receive this funds in your account so that I can meet with you as soon as the funds is transferred and confirmed in your bank account.I will offer you 30% of the funds as soon as it is confirmed in your account.For us to proceed you have to send the following personal details so that we can
proceed. You have to send 1) Your full name and address 2) Your direct phone number. I am waiting for your quick reply email soon. Mr Gbako Ajiri
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Anti-fraud resources:
