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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:
- 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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- markfinancing53@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <markfinancing53@mail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:53:37 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: I CAN HELP YOU WITH FUNDINGS.
Mr Name is Mr Mark Wilton and I am financial helper/Loan lender as
well as an Angel investor. I deliver funds on demand and I give funds
out to make profits. I am resided in the United Kingdom and from there
funds will be processed and made available to you.
I give funds with interest rate of just 4% and this is to make sure I
get the best minimum profit and as well to see that I am able to get
to the best need of the person getting the Loan. I give at minimum
amount of $7,000.00USD and a maximum amount of $70,000,000.00USD.
Contact me via mail for more information: markfinancing53@gmail.com.
I await your response.
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Anti-fraud resources:
