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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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: Chalu Danko <mrchaludanko@sify.com>
Reply-To: mrchaludanko1@sify.com
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:58:06 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent and reply this message.
Dear Friend.
Good day !
I know that this message may come to you as a great surprise.Since you are not used with my email address.However, it's all just my urgent need for a foreign partner like you that made me to contact you for this proposition.I am Staff of a leading Bank in Burkina Faso West Africa.I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of $25.Million US Dollars for us to share 50/50 each .Moreso, i will like you to stand as the next of kin(beneficiary) to our client whose account is presently ready for claims.He left no next of kin.
Further details of the transaction shall be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail.Please kindly indicate your willingness by sending the below informations for more clarification and easy communication.
1)Full name.................................
2)Age.......................................
3)Address...................... ............
4)Occupation................................
5)Mobile Telephone number...................
6)Country of origin.........................
Trusting to hear from you immediately.
Thanks for your interest.
Yours faithfully.
Mr.Chalu Danko.
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Anti-fraud resources:
