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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Agyei Stanley" <atom@atommagadia.com>
Reply-To: stan_ag2@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 05:24:21 +0000
Subject: Reply Now
ATTN/PLS;
How are you and your daily activities including your family? Hope everybody is fine. Though we've not met before, I
Agyei Stanley got your contact through the internet here in Accra Ghana. I am a citizen of Liberia, only son to the Minister of Mineral resource who was killed by the rebels during Charles Taylor's regime.
My father died and left behind physical cash of US$18.7 Million Dollars and some Gold dust of about 72Kg which he
safely kept in a Security Finance Company in Ghana during his regime in the office. I want to invest this money in any profitable business of your choice in your country.
I am hereby soliciting your assistance to be my foreign partner because I've not been outside Africa before in my life.
So I don't want to make any costly mistake that will make me lose my money.
Upon your reply, we can discuss the sharing modalities. All I want is for you to receive the money and send
invitation letter for me to join you. Your urgent reply will enable me to arrange with the Security Finance Company to
move this money through their special Diplomatic Courier Services to your country. For you to claim it till I will meet
you up in your country for my investment. You will also assist me to invest my share in a good and profitable business in your country.
All the necessary documents of deposit from the Security Company are with me. In your reply, please include your
private telephone and fax numbers.
Thanks for your co-operation.
My best regards.
Agyei Stanley
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Anti-fraud resources:
