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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Okaka Olokaka" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.okaka_olokaka@24.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 22:12:53 -0700
Subject: Greetings.
Greetings.
I am Mr. Okaka Olokaka personal assistant to the former governor of Delta State Chief James Onanefe Ibori who is currently seeking asylum in (UAE).
I have a business deal that will be of interest and benefit to you. I was handed over the sum of 12Million United States Dollars by my boss Chief James Onanefe Ibori before he abscond through the Creek in the Niger Delta Area when the manhunt for him was intensified by the Federal Government. The federal Government is currently in search for me due to the high volume of information they require from me to enable them persecute my boss.
I am in a hideout and cannot disclose my location for now to you, if you are interested in knowing more about this deal and how you can be of a help and a benefactor, do contact me immediately with the bellow email address for more detailed information.
My regards,
Mr.Okaka Olokaka
Inquiry From Okaka Olokaka.
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Anti-fraud resources:
