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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)
- "million us 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)
- "your urgent reply" (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: DAVID ASOTO <remmttdd@live.com>
Reply-To: asotodavid@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 20:50:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Friend
Dear Friend,
I am David Asoto and I got your contact on my desperate search for a trusted partner who will help me in investing my late father money abroad. My late father, John Asoto was a gold dealer here in Ghana before his death and he left me with five million US dollars ( $5m) in his deposit account in a Bank here in the country. As the only child, my uncles are threatening to kill me if i don't release the document of money to them.
I contact you so you can be my foreign partner in investing this money in your country so i can settle down in your country and start my life there. If you are interested in helping me move this money into your country and investing it in a good business.
I also want to assure you that 30% 0f this money will be yours for every effort and expenses you will make to receive this money in your country and to help me in investing it there.
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Please do reply me for more details
David Asoto
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Anti-fraud resources:
