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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024062835 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.DAVID PARRY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidparry@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:45:39 +0100
Subject: CLAIM YOUR FUND
Hello Friend,
I am David Parry. I am presently a staff of Capital One Bank U.K.
My contact with you is in regards to an account in my Bank which has been dormant for a while.
I will like you to contact me immediately via email or telephone for an elaborate explanation of what this proposal is all about.
You must contact me immediately cause the project from all indications will be beneficial to all parties concerned .
Since you share same name with the account owner as evident in our record.
Please indicate your interest immediately via my private email for us to proceed.
I shall feed you with full details of this transaction upon receipt of your reply towards this proposal.
Best Regards,
Mr. David Parry .
Tel: + +447024062835
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Anti-fraud resources:
