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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "BOAM KIM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bkboam1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:03:05 +0100
Subject: RE - CONTACTED YOU BECAUSE YOUR INDENTICAL SUR NAME
Dear Friend,
I'm an accounts director with an Asian Pacific regional bank in Cambodia. I'm contacting you about a South
East Asia business connection that will benefit both of us.
There is an unfinished business transaction involving a client with the same sur name as yours that has been
outstanding for a while due to the passing of this client. I want to work with you to utilize this opportunity and
finalize this business out of my bank for our mutual benefits.
Please reply in confidence and I will give you details about me and how we can achieve this.
Best wishes,
kim
Tel No . +855-11591185
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Anti-fraud resources:
