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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:
- "your urgent reply" (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.
- +447024023513 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "ANFIELD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <harrisonleytton_anfcoltd@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:20:20 +0100
Subject: RE: BUSINESS INVESTMENT/ REPLY URGENTLY!
ATTN: MY DEAR
Your urgent attention is highly required in this matter. We have a huge lodgements of funds in our Company here and the owner of the fund is looking for a reliable and honest person that can assist him in the investment of the fund abroad, this is the reason why we have decided to contact you now, because you fit in the kind of person that he needs for this business based on the good recommendation that has been given about you, as regards to this development, we request you to confirm your interest in the investment by replying to this message urgently so that we can furnish you with more information on the matter and amount involved and what is going to be your percentage participation in the transaction.
There is no hidden agenda concerning the transaction as no risk is involved because the fund in question is legitimate money meant for investment. We are looking forward to your urgent reply to this mail or you can as well call our Financial Officer, MR HARRISON LEYTTON on his Official direct telephone number + 44 702 402 3513 as soon as you receive this message,
Thanks and best regards.
MS VERA LAMBERT
(Secretary)
ANFIELD FINANCE CO LTD UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
