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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:
- "huge amount 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: PETER MASSON <petermary205@yahoo.com.br>
Reply-To: petermansson68@yahoo.com.br
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 05:03:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Peter Mansson.
>From Peter Mansson.
I do not mean to embarras you by this proposal, but to know if i can confident in you for my safety and also to seek your utmost assistance and it is my pleasure to write you Based on the information and recommendation I got about quick growth of investment in your country.I am Peter Manson i am the only son of Chief Taylor Manson from Sierra Leone. i am writing you from Rep of Cote 'Ivoire where i have been taking refuge Due to the series of continious war in my country for multiple years ago, there is this huge amount of MONEY ($17,000,000) which my late father kept for me in a fixe deposit account with one of the prime bank in SPAIN EUROPE before he was assasinated by some unknown enemies.
Now I have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside this country for security and political reasons.i urge that you help me to transfer this fund to your country for investment purposes. I have all the informations of the bank in SPAIN EUROPE don't be afraid i am communicating with bank director in SPAIN. Please help me i don't want them to sieze the fund because it's very far from here in Africa. I called the bank director few days ago he told me their are waiting for my late father business partner so that they will tranfered the fund to him or her, please understand my feelings i am unconfortable here because the money is the only hope of my life and future.I am pleased to ask you how much will be your percantage Of the total fund? after bank tranferred the fund to your account.I await your soonest response.my warmest regards to your entire family.Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Peter Mansson.
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