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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: alston_wf@volny.cz (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:30:14 +0100 (CET)
Subject: =?iso-8859-2?Q?Partnership_/_Investment?=
Dear Sir,
Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have not met
before, I am Alston Wilberforce, Credit officer here in our bank.
I want to invest in your country in terms of $17.3m USD to be transferred
to an offshore account of your choice by your assistance. This however
is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against
your will. I would like you to read on and consider the value I offer.
Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
we shall then share in the ratio of 70% for me, 30% for you.
Should you be interested Please treat this business with utmost Confidentiality
and send me the following details of yours:
Full name:........Occupation:.......Age…....private phone number:........Current
residential address:....... I’m anxiously awaiting your response.
Thank you and God bless you.
Mr. Alston Wilberforce.
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Anti-fraud resources:
