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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- garysmith08@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "GARY SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <garysmith08@sify.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 17:53:46 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION MY GOOD FRIEND.......
ATTENTION MY GOOD FRIEND.
RE- THE US$1.5 MILLION DOLLARS CREDIT IN YOUR FAVOUR:
I AM THE HEAD OF OPERATIONS OF SECURICOR ASSET MANAGEMENT CO. UK. HERE IN
LONDON.
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU ABOUT THE PAYMENT OF US$1.5
MILLION DOLLARS IN YOUR FAVOUR. WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE
PAYMENT OF THE OUTSTANDING FUND IN OUR OFFICE.
MAY I INFORM YOU THAT AFTER OUR RESEARCH WE FINALLY RESOLVED THAT YOU ARE
THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THE SUM OF $1.5
MILLION (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS). THIS MONEY WAS
DEPOSITED IN OUR VAULT FOR SAFE-KEEPING BY
ONE OF OUR LATE CUSTOMER MR. PEDRO AND A NATIONALE OF YOUR COUNTRY, YOU
HAVE NOTED AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO OUR LATE
CUSTOMER. TO EFFECT THE RELEASE OF THE FUNDS TO YOU, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO
CONFIRM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. CONTACT ADDRESS:
3. YOUR TELEPHONE CONTACTS:
4. AGE AND OCCUPATION:
UPON RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM YOU, WE WILL
REALEASE THE FUNDS TO YOU WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
WE ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATE YOU.
KINDLY REPLY TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS: garysmith08@sify.com
SINCERELY,
MR. GARY SMITH.
HEAD OF OPERATIONS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
