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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: SIR ENRICO KOSHY <enricokoshyprivate1@videobank.it>
Reply-To: enricokoshyprivate@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:37:23 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS INVESTMENT!!!!!!
From: Mr. Enrico Koshy
INVESTMENT SCHEME
My Name is Ronald George, an investment consultant working here London with
Lloyds Banking Group Plc .I will be happy to work this deal out with
you if you
have a corporate or personal Bank Account. I need strong Assurance that you
will never let me down, if I transfer this money to your account. The money to
transfer is (£11,500,000 (Eleven Million and Five hundred British Pounds) for
investment expansion in your country; I am constrained to issue more details
about this business until your response is received.
I am looking forward hearing from you as soon as possible if you are
interested
reply back and send your mobile so that i will call you to have hearth to
hearth talk over this transaction. You should email me on Thank you for your
time and attention.
I really have Question for you?
1. Can i completely trust you in this business transaction?
2. Can you handle this multi-million Pounds project?
3. 40% percent of the £11.5 Million Pounds sterling will be offered to you for
your humble assistance.
Get back to me if you found this preposition worthy so that I can
update on the
next step in actualization of this business transaction. Just try to call me
always on my phone number for more discussion concerning this investment plan
Regards and Respect.
Enrico Koshy.
Call Me on My Private Mobile Cell: +44 7045 70881
Lloyds Banking Group Plc
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Anti-fraud resources:
