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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 united states 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)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "MR LEKUN DADA" <lekun_dada1@inmail24.com>
Reply-To: <lekun_dada7@inmail24.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 03:39:50 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION BELOVED
ATTENTION,
BEFORE I PROCEED I MUST BE GRATEFUL TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS MR LEKUN DADA, A ZIMBABWAN. I WAS FORMERLY A PERSONAL AIDE TO ONE OF THE TOP MINISTERS OF ROBERT MUGABE'S FORMER GOVERNMENT. DUE TO MY POSITION AND CLOSENESS WITH THE MINISTER, I WAS ABLE TO MANIPULATE WITH SOME SUBSTANCIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY AMOUNTING TO $ 11.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS WHICH WAS PART OF THE MONEY FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE'S RE-ELECTION INTO OFFICE UNDER THE ZANUPE PARTY. CURRENTLY THE FUND IS IN A SECURITY FINANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IN MY COUNTRY(ZIMBABWE)
I AND MY TWO CHILDREN ARE REFUGEES AT THE MOMENT IN SOUTHAFRICA, AND I HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTER ALONE. MY REQUEST; WE ARE THEREFORE LOOKING FOR A TRUSTWORTHY INDIVIDUAL/FIRM TO ADVICE ASSIST US IN MAKING THE RIGHTFUL INVESTMENT MORESO WE ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING PROPERTIES FOR RESIDENTIAL AS MY FAMILY WILL BE RESIDING THERE IN THEN EAR FUTURE. COMMISSION / REMUNERATION AS REGARDS YOUR ASSISTANCE;
MY FAMILY AND I SHALL OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM AND ALL YOUR EXPENSES I.E {TELEPHONE BILLS, TRAVEL EXPENSES ETC.} SHALL ALSO BE REFUNDED BACK TO YOU. NOTE: I SHALL COMMIT HALF OF THE TOTAL SUM INTO A JOINT VENTURE PROJECT AND BE ASSURED THAT YOU STAND NO RISK OF ANY KIND AS THE FUND BELONGS TO ME ALONE.
AS SOON AS I GET YOUR CONSENT, I WILL FURNISH YOU WITH THE DETAILS AND CONTACT OF THE FINANCE COMPANY AND A FACE TO FACE MEETING WILL BE ARRANGED IN ORDER TO KNOW EACH OTHER/OURSELF BETTER. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ASSOCIATING WITH YOU TO EMBARK ON THIS AND OTHER BUSINESS VENTURES WILL DERIVE A HUGE SUCCESS HEREAFTER.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION DO NOT HESITATE TO INCLUDE THEM IN YOUR REPLY.
BEST REGARDS.
MR.LEKUN DADA.
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