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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:
- "await your urgent response" (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 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.
- randyh40@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Randy Helton" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <randyh40@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:17:01 +0800
Subject: OFFSHORE TRUST INVESTMENT
OFFSHORE TRUST INVESTMENT
Compliments of the season! Courtesy of Business opportunity, I take liberty anchored on strong desire to solicit for your assistance on this mutual and beneficial transaction with you, which I hope you will give urgent attention. I am Dr. Randy Helton, an American military contractor in Iraq.
I need your services in a confidential matter regarding investing money in your country. This requires a confidential and private arrangement. You will receive these funds and invest them on our behalf in your country. I am willing to pay a generous management fees as well as appreciation for fewer questions asked. I have all the details and the funds in question are quite large.
The fund is currently located in a safe place in Malaysia and I am currently in Malaysia to finalize the arrangements with you.
I will expect a straightforward answer from you. If yes, then let’s work out the modalities. I await your urgent response. Meanwhile I am presently in Malaysia We need to discuss before I travel back to the Gulf.
Please contact me urgently on my email : randyh40@sify.com
Thanks,
Dr. Randy Helton.
+60126674812
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Anti-fraud resources:
