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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "huge sum 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- sirpeterjob2010@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sir Peter Job" <peterjob1000@aol.com>
Reply-To: sirpeterjob2010@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 16:01:47 +0800 (MYT)
Subject:
Dear Friend,
This is to officially inform you that you have been chosen as the
custodian/ benefactor to a huge sum of money 24,500,000.00 Euros (Twenty
Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros) deposited with the DEUTSCHE
BANK. I have contacted you to stand as the next-of-kin so that the funds
will be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary/next-of-kin
to the deceased. All machinery would be put in place to ensure that this
claim is hitch free, If you are capable of putting your time and efforts
towards the venture kindly contact me immediately with the following
informations .
Please i want you to contact ME ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL Address
(sirpeterjob2010@hotmail.com)
(1. )Your Full names And Address
(2.) A scanned copy of your ID
(3.) Telephone and fax number.
sirpeterjob2010@hotmail.com
Yours faithfully,
Sir Peter Job
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This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
