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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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.
- stevsanya@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. steve sanya" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevsanya114@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:13:32 -0800
Subject: RE IMMEDIATE FUND CREDITING
IMMEDIATE FUND CREDITING
Attn: please,
I am Mr. steve sanya the international account officer of
This is to inform you that we received an instruction letter from office the PRESIDENTFEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,instructing us as corresponding bank to commence on the Electronic Wire Transfer of your funds amounting to sixteen million five hundred thousand united state dollas {$16.5 m} of your overdue inheritance contract payment your bank in America.
You are required to provide the followings information’s below:
{1}. Your Full Name and Address:
{2}. Your Confidential Tel, Cell and Fax Number for easier and
faster communication:
{3). Your Bank name and address:
{4). Your A/c Name and Numbers:
(5). Your Swift Code / Routing Numbers:
Please do provide the above information accurately, because this office cannot afford to be held liable for any wrong transfer of funds or liability of funds credited into a ghost account.
Looking forward to receive the required information,
Mr. steve sanya
Kindly contact me via email: stevsanya@rediffmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
