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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:
- "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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ho Chen Tung" <hhiicsd@email.com>
Reply-To: hhiicsd@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:38:20 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Business deal (Treat as urgent)
Hello,
contact me immediately because I need a confirmation of acceptance from
you for a transfer of US$ 21,300,000.00 dollars to you. this money
initially belongs to a client who died and had no next of kin in his
account-opening package. in order to achieve this, I shall require your
full name, and telephone number to reach you.
I shall furnish you with the full details of this transaction as soon as I
receive your reply.
Please treat as urgent and confidential.
Ho Chen Tung
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Anti-fraud resources:
