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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:
- ",000,000" (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: "Yisel Ahmed" <yiselahmed@care2.com>
Reply-To: yis_ahmed@ski.de
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:31:03 +0100
Subject: CAN YOU HELP ME ON THIS?
Hello dear
I have view your profile in the internet, I am convinced of your ability to manage financial resouce base on trust and confidentiality.
My name is Mr. Yisel Ahmed head of voucher department in the Federal Ministry of Finance in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. we prepared voucher for the payment of Foreign Contractors. I want to use this opportunity to transfer US$7,000,000 to your Company's account or any other account you may wish to use. I want to use the money to invest in your Country with your assistance as co-investor.
The only information I needed to make this transfer is as follows:-
1. Your company name and address which will be use to raise the voucher to mean that you executed a contract for which the money will be transfer to your account.
2 Your personal phone/fax number
3. information of the account you wish to use.
No risk is ivolve in this deal. All arrangement to get other contract documents to cover the deal has been completed. All security arrangement has also been put in place. This is strickly confidential.
I shall resign my appointment and come to meet you over there for the
investment immediately you receive the funds.The deal is to concluded in 3 working day from the date I get your information.
Awaiting your reply urgently.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Yisel Ahmed
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Anti-fraud resources:
