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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- drdrvictor@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. VICTOR ONU" <dr_victoronu@sify.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: drdrvictor@sify.com
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:19:32 GMT
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL/ IMMEDIATE REPLY NEEDED
Sir
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction.
This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret.
I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money.
I am personal assistance to the Nigerian ailing President on domestic matters.
My colleagues and I stumbled into a large trunk of funds marked $30m USD in a trunk box in the presidential villa when he was in Saudi Arabia for medical reasons.
Since it is certain he may not survive the illness due to complications, I and my colleagues who are aware of the content of the box gathered all relevant document and moved the funds out of the country.
We did this in order to forestall the funds from being stolen by other people. We will therefore need your assistance in receiving the funds on our behalf for investment purposes. We have agreed to offer you 30% of the whole money, 60% for us and 10% for any eventual expenses. There is no risk involved in this transaction.
Every arrangement has been concluded with the diplomat who assisted us in moving the funds out of Nigeria that as soon as you indicate your interest to this request, the money will be moved out to you within 3-5 days. Waiting to hear from you.
Please reply to: drdrvictor@sify.com
DR. VICTOR ONU
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Anti-fraud resources:
