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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: PATRICK AGUKA <naccylucy@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: patrickagukaa@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 14:52:32 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I am waiting for your urgent reply so that we can commence.
Dear Friend,
Transfer involving US$ 7.5M.
Pardon me for not knowing your mind before making you this offer which is very confidential and genuine.
I write for your assistance in a funds transfer deal involving US$ 7.5M. (Seven Million Five Hundred United States Dollars Only). This fund has been stashed out of the excess Profit made the previous year by my branch of the (SCB) STANDARD CHARTERED BANK which I am the manager. I have submitted an approved end of the year report for the year 2009 to my head office here in Accra-Ghana and they will
never know of this excess.
I have since then, put this amount on a Non-Investment Account (ESCROW) without a beneficiary. If I receive your positive reply. I will guide you on how to apply to my head office for the Account Closure/ bank-to-bank remittance of the funds to your designated bank account. If you concur with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 35% of the funds while 60% shall be for me which i will use for investment in your country and 5% will be set aside for expenses both local and international.
I am waiting for your urgent reply so that we can commence.
Regards,
Patrick Agukaa
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Anti-fraud resources:
