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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nation" <info@unitednation.org>
Reply-To: prof.kenneth2005@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:01:34 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: $8.3M NEW DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR FAVOUR:
URGENT ATTENTION;
$8.3M NEW DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR FAVOUR:
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOUR THAT AFTER EMERGENCY MEETING HELD TODAY
BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT CONCERNING YOUR INHERITANCE FUND AMOUNTED TO
EIGHT MILLION, THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($8.3M) WHICH
WAS CONCLUDED TO DELIVER YOUR INHERITANCE FUND TO YOUR DOOR STEP BY
(OPTIMUM ASSET MANAGEMENT) WHICH IS THE LATEST ARRANGEMENT TODAY BY THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT, UNITED NATION (UN) & EUROPEAN UNION (EU).
YOUR NAMES APPEARED ON THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN BOARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL
POLICE (INTERPOL) THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH SOME IMPOTORS HERE IN LONDON
AND YOUR ENTIRE ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE UNITED NATION (UN), US FBI, BRITISH GOVERNMENT
& EUROPEAN UNION (EU) TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH THE IMPOSTORS
TO AVOID ANY HITCH IN RECEIVING YOUR INHERITANCE FUND.
DEAR BENEFICIARY; KINDLY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY GET BACK TO US REGARDING
THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT TO ENABLE US PROCEED IMMEDIATELY AND DELIVER YOUR
TOTAL FUND TO YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
RESPECTFULLY,
PROF. A. KENNETH
SECRETARY GENERAL
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Anti-fraud resources:
