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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ATTENTION:" <dhtt@htt.cn>
Reply-To: "ATTENTION:" <ruhlonno@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 21:14:12 +0800
Subject: ATTENTION:
__________________________________________________
ATTENTION:
My name is Mr. Onno Ruhl, a World Bank country director.
I have a tempting cash-gift from an African President, whom I helped to procure loan for his country from the World Bank.
I am suppose to pick up this money ($7.5 million)from there country embassy in London, but owing to some security reasons, I do not want handle this transaction in person or bank the money on my name. After due consideration T don’t think it is safe for me to invest or bank this money in Europe here. I am therefore looking for an honest investor from India or any other Asian country, who can handle the money on my behalf. The person will receive the fund on my behalf from London invest and manage it for me for the next four years when I will retire from service here. (In year 2013)
Note that you may not be require to travel to London to pick up the money unless if you choose to do so. The money can be package as a diplomatic parcel and delivered to your house in cash or you can nominate a bank account where the money can be paid in through international wire-transfer. This can be completed in one week. If you can help I will let you take 2.5 million for your service while the remaining 5 million will be invested and manage for me until 2013 when I will retire from service.
I will give you details as soon as I get your acceptance.
Best Regard
Onno Ruhl
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Anti-fraud resources:
