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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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Bill stanley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <billfstanley@admin111.cjb.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:02:57 -0700
Subject: RE: URGENT
Hello,
I got your name and address from a guest book and i decided to contact you. I am an American soldier coming to your state to start up a new life. I am on my way to your states with plan to start up an investment. My arrival date to your state is next 3 days. I need your help to open an account and deposit my funds that i am coming with.
I serve in the military 1st Armored Division in Iraq but since the war is over i need to start up an investment. I and my superior seized from Saddam Hussein and the total is $12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
Basically since we are working for the government we cannot keep these funds,but we want to transfer this funds out to offshore account.
Can you see the pictures of money attached to this letter with me? if you can't view it then i will resend it when i arrive and we both we go to the bank to deposit the funds.
My job is to find a good partner that i can trust and that will assist me. Can i trust you? When you receive this letter,kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication also your contact details.
This business is risk free.
Respectfully submitted
Sgt. Stanley Bill
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Anti-fraud resources:
