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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:
- "million dollars" (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.
- 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.
- neeyet1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Chief Mwelo <togoroyalfamily@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: neeyet1@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 06:52:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Good day!
Good day!
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I believe that this finds you and your family well as I would like to collaborate with you if you deem it necessary and rewarding at achieve my personal investment plan.
I am one of the Vice President of South African Football Association and we just finished hosting 2010 world cup in South Africa as you may be aware.
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I’m consulting you for my personal investment plan which I would like to discuss with you and know the possibility of how we can co-operate and work together to carry it out without jeopardizing my position, which I believe will be beneficial to both parties if handled with honesty.
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There is some fund I realized as a result of my position from the award of contracts to prospective contractors building stadiums and other projects which I would like to transfer abroad for investment purposes. The total sum is US$11 million dollars and it is securely deposited abroad.
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If you can assist me to receive this fund and invest for me in any profitable business in your country, contact me and we discuss on how to achieve this effectively.
When you respond, I will then call you and discuss with you on further steps to be taken to achieve this. I am willing to offer you 15% of the total fund for your kind assistance.
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Thank you as I await your response.
Regards,
Â
Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana.
Reply to: neeyet1@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
