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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- samuda01@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Samuel David." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <samuda01@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:56:44 +0100
Subject: From The Desk Of Dr Samuel David!!!
>From The Desk Of Dr Samuel David.
Director Foreign Payment Clearing Unit.
Dear Sir/Madam
Based on our investigation of your payment, we want to find out if you're still alive or did you sign
any deed of assignment with Mrs Doris Malone of Toronto, Canada to receive your entitlement?
We need you to confirm this information urgently and return to us with:
Your Names:
Your Home/Office Address:
Your Phone #
Your Occupation:
Your Age/Sex:
Purpose of Payment
This is because your settlement amount has been approved in your favor for payment so get the above
information to us urgently to enable us ascertain that we are in contact with the bonafide beneficiary
otherwise we may have no alternative but to release your entitlement and settlement amount to
Mrs. Doris Malone on the strenght of the Deed of Assignment submitted for this purpose.
Best Regards,
Dr Samuel David.
samuda01@aol.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
