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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "certified bank draft" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Partzento J. <partzento-5@msn.com>
Reply-To: <savimbimartins@voila.fr>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:17:59 +0000
Subject: My Dear
MRS.PARTZENTO J. SAVIMBI
#01 Smut Ave, Luanda,
Angola.
My Dear Friend,
This is my appreciation to your passed commitments in my proposed transaction to you. I realized your hands were tied up then. I have transferred the Fund in a new Bank Account provided by a new partner in India. I dropped an International Certified Bank Draft worth US$1.2m (one million, two hundred thousand united state dollars) to send to you in care of Revrend Peter Daniel in Benin-Republic as compensation for your passed efforts.
So contact him via this email address: Email: info.peterdaniel@voila.fr or forward my email to him, asking him to send the Bank Draft to you. I am presently in India trying to invest the funds in a profitable businesses with my new partner.
Although my current partner is not happy that I have to allocate such amount to you bearing in mind your attitude to the transaction at its crucial stage.
Send to him your information as I listed below;
1. Your full name:
2. Your home delivery address:
3. Your mobile & house phone numbers:
Take good care of yourself.
Best wishes,
Mrs. Partzento J. Savimbi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
