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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "application fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- kelvy@megamail.pt (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Kelvin Umeadi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kelvy@megamail.pt>
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:55:53 +0100
Subject: I look forward to your earnest reply please
Sir,
I am sorry I am contacting you through this means. Sorry I have no other option than this which I consider fast. Considering the internet fraud prevalent in the world I am very skeptical about using this means but I consider it is the quickest means of contact.
I work with the office of the accountant general of the federal republic of Nigeria with my office based in Lagos. I work as an inspector grade 1.
I am contacting you to please ask you to work with us in our quest to move the sum of USD11.5 million. This money I will explain to you how it arose on your reply will be transferred legally to an account you will provide. I work with three other officers who are higher than me. I am only but a coordinator for this transaction.
For your information, I have discussed with my colleagues on how to raise the fund required for the financing and we have also agreed with a financier through his agent in Lagos. You therefore shall not spend a cent of yours. We assure you that the financier shall send to you all the money which you will require to fund the transaction. We shall handle the modalities.
Please consider this proposal and get back to me with your full name and company name with your address, telephone contacts fast as we look forward to realize this transfer before Christmas.
PLEASE RPLY THROUGH THE STATED EMAIL BELOW FOR EASY ACCESS TO ALL INVOLVE:
kelvy@megamail.pt
I look forward to your reply.
Kelvin Umeadi
Nb;
Please note that you will be responsible of the payment of $185 to the attorney for the intial application fee for the sourcing of the fund while on our part we shall pay for running cost during thr procesiing of thr transaction.
Remember that this is the only fee any part will be involve in as the financier will fund the transfer on completion. I will explain this situation to you when you reply to my proposal.
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