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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:
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- juan_favour2@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Julius Douglas" <eje_ana1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: juan_favour2@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:26:41 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FUND TRANSFER OF $5,000:00 USD
CONTACT THE SECRETARY VIA EMAIL FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT .
My Dear Partner
I Am Not Happy With The Secretary For Long Now He Did Not Send You The Bank Draft Which The Management Of This Company Kept For Your Compensation.
We Have Just Finalize With The New Secretary To Send You The Bank Draft Which Contains The Sum Of $3.8Million .US Dollars For The 2011 Project, And Sorry For The Inconveniences This Might Cause You, All These While.
Contact Her Now;
Mrs. Juan Favour
Email :(juan_favour2@hotmail.com)
And Ask Her To Send You The Bank Draft, And She Will Also Attach You The Copy Of The Bank Draft Before It Delivered To Your Address And Make Sure You Forward Her With Your Home Or Office Address Including Your Telephone Number And A Copy Of Your Identity Card For Recognition.
These Information's Above Are To Be Send To The Secretary Immediately You Receive This Message Because Of The Validity Of The Bank Draft To Enable Her Deliver Your Cashier Bank Draft Of $3.8million dollars To You Without Further Delay.
Best Regards
Mr. John Julius Douglas.
GM CAPITAL OIL LIMITED.
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Anti-fraud resources:
