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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mary_mary_mary_77778@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:11:28 +0100
Subject: Re: INVESTMENT IS VERY URGENT
Dear Sir.
You may be surprised to receive my letter. I got your contact from the internet during my desperate search for a partner. I am Mrs. Mary Moore, 42yrs old with two kids from Mauritius in Africa; I am the wife of late Dr. Johnson Moore. The owner of Moore Ind. Ltd. who died after a brief illness that lasted for only Six days last year. After the death of my husband, a security company notified me that my husband deposited the sum of USD$64 million dollars with them, but due to my illness they asked me to look for a well partner whom they will transfer the money into his or her account within the next two week or the money would be included on their annual profit for this year 2010. Now I want to use you as my partner since you are an investor. Hence I will live in your country and invest my money, please if you are in the position to actualize this transaction for me and my family you will benefit mutually from it all, please I will be very happy to hear from you. Meanwhile I am! In search of an agent to assis
Thanks and waiting for your response.
Mrs. Mary Moore
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Anti-fraud resources:
