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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sir Assunção Fernades" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <safernad@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 14:28:59 -0700
Subject: Re:SEND YOUR DETAILS FOR INWARD INVESTMENT IN YOUR COMPANY/COUNTRY
A floating deficit has been discovered in our account with the European Bank and seek to transfer this money abroad for investment purpose.I Appreciated to use your person and company to claim the fund out of the Bank in Europe.
Therefore,i am going to present you to the Bank in Europe as our contractor who did the servicing and maintenance of the oil pipeline in Sao Tome et Principe whom his payment has being over due and as soon as the money is remit to your account i will be willling to invest the sum of $35m in your company/country.
My interest is in companies with potentials for rapid growth in long terms, I am Assunção Fernandes,the Ex-Chairman of the Finance Committee on public accounts of the Democratic Republic Of Sao Tome et Principe (a small oil rich lsland.)Regards.Mr. Assunção Fernades.
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Anti-fraud resources:
