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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "EDWIN MOORE" <edwin.moore2010@privateinvestor.com>
Reply-To: edwin.moore2010@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 17:44:40 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: REPLY SOON
Attention Please!
I am looking for your cooperation in having establishing some business
investments in your country worth of US$50,000,000.00. I demand to know
from you some lucrative
businesses that will be highly profitable in your country while i propose
to make you my representative/manager therein and am offering you 5% of
the total amount to
be invested in your country for your help in receiving this fund
(US$50,000,000.00) into your designated bank account after being
transferred from Ghana. I contacted you since i do not know any other
person in your country and your information was realized by me during my
search on your country's e-mail directories.
Your immediate acknowledgment to this proposal will be highly appreciated
to enable our immediate proceedings in this regard.
Urgently indicate your interest to this proposal and send me your
telephone number on your reply to me for our oral communication too.
Regards,
Mr. Edwin Moore.
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Anti-fraud resources:
