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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:
- ",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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "henry@tax-com.co.cc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Abul" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsanzia@tax-com.co.cc>
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:28:49 -0700
Subject: Hello
Hello,Are you still alive? If yes reply immediately,
I have received the cheque from the bank three days ago as
we agreed. I kept the Check with Mr Henry Eke as we
discussed.Please contact/mail him immediately to send the
Check which contents $4,500,000:00 to you. I am in Columbia
now.I kept $4.5 Million Check with him and will send you
the rest of your money after my business trip here.
I send you so many mails but all bounced back.So
contact/email him with below email address and phone
number for him to send the Check to you immediately: (
henry@tax-com.co.cc )( +2347030575432 ) , send him your
NAME ,Telephone number and complete address for safe
delivery of your Check which contents $4.5 Million to you.
Thanks and do let me know when you receive the Check
from him.
Abul Nazir
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Anti-fraud resources:
