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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)
 
 -  "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)
 
 -  "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
 
  -  This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams. 
 
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Cindy" (may be fake) 
Reply-To: <cinndy@asia.com> 
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:03:01 -0700 
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed 
 
Dear Friend 
Help Me 
 
Am Mrs Cindy an ex banker with reputable financial institution here in the 
Philippines.Am a manager of auditing and accounting at the foreign remittance 
department When am working with my old bank i found out this huge amount 
$15.5Million united state American Dollars belonging to one India American national. 
 
My investigation to know the present condition of this costumer i found out he 
is dead .I personally decided to search for some one who could help to me to 
present him/self to the bank for immediate claims,Am presently looking for 
reliable obedient personality with good behaviour to entrust this matter on his 
hand to present him /her self directly to the bank as the provisional next of 
kin to claim the fund. 
 
I will give all details needed as the provisional next of kin to request claims 
from the bank.Bear in mind this account has been dormant nearly five years and 
according to our international banking laws stipulate that any foreigner account 
holder in the Philippines exceeded for five years dormant without operation 
should be frozen and re-direct back to the central bank of Philippines and the 
central bank has no right to explain for any body or bodies. 
 
Name will be mention later after i receive your urgent respond.Do not ascertain 
any fear in this transaction.Am requesting your good effort to present your self 
as the provisional next of kin.Am doing this top secret and risk free deal with 
you directly with all my heart. 
 
The fund will be sheared in three parts,You will get 40% i will get 50% while 
%10 will be for expenses to regularize all the documentation aspect. 
 
Kindly send me your name age address phone fax number .Call me immediately you 
received this information to show interest,Please if your not able in heart to 
run this offer kindly Delete this Offer as soon as possible for security 
reason.Please forgive me if may disturb your attention. 
 
As soon as i receive your reply we will start this project without delay i will 
need agreement to bide us not cheat me because all the money will be transferred 
once to the provision next of kin account of choice out of my country.I will 
instruct you on how to wire my own shear back to me. or i will preferable visit 
your country to take my own shear.Call me on this number below and you have to 
mention C5 as soon as i answered you hello as my secret code without this code 
please im sorry i will not answer you. 
 
Attention will be appreciated 
 
Regards 
 
Mrs Cindy 
+639393893438 
Mention C5 
 
 
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