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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: "Copyright © 2010 Asterx Standard Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akeelan_anderson1@secretarias.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:50:01 -0700
Subject: AWAIT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TODAY.
AWAIT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TODAY.
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
I MUST FORFEIT THAT AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY YOU ARE TAKING THIS WHOLE DELIVERY, AND BECAUSE OF THIS I WENT TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO REQUEST FOR THIER HELP IN GETTING YOUR FUND TO YOU BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT ONLY IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME MONEY SO I PLEADED WITH THEM SO I TOOK MY CAR TO DEPOSIT IT AS A COLLATERAL JUST TO LET THEM KNOW THAT AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR FUND YOU WILL CLEAR THE WHOLE BILL BEFORE YOU, SO LUCKILY FOR US THEY AGREED BUT I WAS TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO SEND $250 TO THIER OFFICE TODAY SO AS TO HELP US FACILITATE THE QUICK RELEASE OF YOUR FUND.
SO WHEN I SEE THAT IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM AGAIN I CALLED MY WIFE THAT I AND MY CLIENT HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS A FINANCIAL ASSITANCE AND SHE SAID HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SO I SAID IT IS JUST $250 BUT TO CUT THE STORY SHORT SHE SAID SHE HAVE ONLY $100 SO I ADD IT WITH THE $50 AM HAVING SO IT IS NOW $150 ALTOGETHER, SO JUST TRY AND SEND THE REST $100 TODAY SO AS TO MAKE THEM BELIEVE WE ARE SERIOUS INREGARDS TO THE RELEASE OF THE FUND.
SO GET BACK TO ME TODAY.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.
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Anti-fraud resources:
