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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "FRANK ROBERT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <persec@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:28:11 +0100
Subject: Hello Good Morning...11 - 11 - 2010
Hello Good Morning,
This is to actually confirm from you if you have an agreement or know some body by the name Jessica Elliot or did you sign any Deed of Assignment with her to receive your long overdue fund in your place.
Are you also aware that Jessica Elliot is evidencing your claim purported to have been signed personally by you prior to the release of your contract fund valued at Five Million, sIX Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.
This was the main reason my office was instructed to investigate this issue to know if the Lady is right.Also on our investigation so far, we found out that she claims to be your representative and that you had an accident which has paralyzed two of your legs which was the reason you made her the sole benefaciary to your fund since you can't walk. Now, she is here to make claims of the said fund she claim to be inherited from you.
You will do us a favor by informing us if she is from you because everything to make transfer to her is ready but it is a must for us to know if her claim is true or false because we do not want to make transfer to the wrong person.
We urgently would like to hear from you today to know what our next action will be. Get back to me as soon as possible via email or call +234-802 - 592 - 9605 for the immediate release of your fund to you.
It will be nice if you call & respond to this email because time is of essence.
Regards,
Frank Robert.
Investigation Bureau.
+234-802 - 592 - 9605
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Anti-fraud resources:
