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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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: jeff sanousi <sanjeff_2005@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: sanusi101@myway.com
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 08:34:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: My request.
Good day,
It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and assistance in my desire to invest in your country.I saw your contact when I was doing research.Briefly,I want to introduce mysalf.
My name is Jeff Sanusi from Republic of Ghana in west Africa my late father sarved as a minister in the past regime he use his position to acquire huge amount of money which he had wanted to invest outside my country but becaues of his death he could not do it.
Before his death he advise me to look for a truthworthy company or individual who will assist and guild me for the investment in his country to accomplish his will
.The amount involved is $14.6m U.S dollars.You will be given %30 of the total amount while %70 will be for the investment capital.
I am looking forward for your positive response via my email address.
Your Faithfully
Jeff Sanusi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
