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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:
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: GOLD DUST OFFER <agogo_f@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: peterbutu1@googlemail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:46:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOLD AND DIAMOND FOR SALE
Dear Sir,
We have gotten your name and address as gold brokers and we are therefore contacting you with the intention of entering into an everlasting partnership in both gold dust and Diamonds. we have 500 kg X 22 karat gold dust of none bankable condition for sale to any interested buyer. the gold is located in ACCRA, the Capital of Ghana, in the Government warehouse at the airport..We sell at a given away price of $18.700(United States Dollars) per kilo.
And the Diamonds ranging from 4 carats to 35 carats with different colors and sizes. All the Diamond is uncut. The origin of this products are Liberia /Ghana /Côte d'Ivor & Burkina Faso. We are currently seeking for a reputable buyer who will be able to come down here in (Accra, Ghana) for inspection and examine of the raw gold dust & Diamond before payment and shipment. Interested buyer or middle men can contact us for more explanation and the full details regarding this offer. And any interested buyer must come in person to inspect and examine the raw gold dust before payment and shipment.We will offer you 5% commission if you are not a buyer and connecting us to buyers.Don't forget to include your direct telephone number/mobile lines in your reply.
We wait to see your urgent reply.
Thanks and best regards
Morgan Thomas,
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Anti-fraud resources:
