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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "rev.john234@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Debbie Anderson." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rev.john234@gmx.com>
Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 10:11:10 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
How are you today?
Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of your winning check to you as a winner. due to one reason or the other best known to you. But I want to inform you that I have successfully cleared the check to someone else account who was capable of assisting me in this great venture.
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage trustworthiness you showed at the course of the transaction.
I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $750,000.00 Thousand United State Of America Dollars I have authorized Mr Williams Nelsonw here I deposited my money to issue you international certified bank draft cashable at your bank.
My dear friend I will like you to contact the Mr Williams Nelson.for the collection of this international certified bank draft.
The name and contact address of the Mr Williams Nelsonis as follows.
Name Mr Williams Nelson.
Email: rev.john234@gmx.com
phone number: +234-802 596 5489.
Contact Mr Williams Nelson At the moment, I?m very busy here because of the investment projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand In London.
Finally remember that I have forwarded instruction to the Mr Williams Nelsonyour behalf to send the bank draft check of Seven hundren and fifty thousand United State Of America Dollars to you as soon as you contact him without delay .
Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
Mrs Debbie Anderson.
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