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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (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: "Nat Wesst Bank plc." <edgar.paul203@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infopauledgar@mail.md
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:03:48 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Attention: Bearer.
Attention: Bearer.
For I know that this message might meet you in utmost surprise however it’s my
urgent need for a some-one special like you as foreign partner that made me to
contact you for this joint venture. Been a banker by profession from London and
currently holding the post of Director Auditing and Accounting Unit. Am
presently sit on-top of the left over funds ( $5.5M) FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.
As it will interest you to know the existence of this fund: It’s was a floods
rain which started at 4:30 am on Wed Sept 02-09-2009 till 3:54pm. Which kills
and collapse many homes and some Offices, some of our rural-bank branches was
affected in this disaster and been a Director Auditing & Account in the head
office. I hard an opportunity to map-out mention amount to be kept in suspense
Banks Account for urgent transfer with immediate effect.
You can confirm the genuine of the disaster by clicking on this website:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090902/world/burkina_floods
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/03/2675539.htm
Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money will be shared
between us in the ratio of 50/50 percentage. If you agree to my joint venture
proposal, further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I
receive your return mail with your complete information’s. Bear in mind that
it’s between you and me alone, and it will take only Seven Bank Working Days.
I am waiting for your urgent response.
Best Regards.
Mr,Paul Edgar.
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