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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ibarhim Ahmed <ibrahimazem@bigmir.net>
Reply-To: ibrahimahmed1957@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:52:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
Compliment of the Day.
Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have not met before, My Name is Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed.
Credit Officer, African Development Bank (A.D.B), Ouagadougou Burkina Faso, West Africa. (A.D.B) I have a business proposal in the tune of $15million to be transferred to an offshore account with your assistance. This however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will. I would like you to read on and consider the value I offer.
Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall then share in the ratio of 60% for me, 30% for you. And 10% will be mapped out for any expenses you will make in this transaction.
You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site. (Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm)
Mr. Andreas Schranner has long passed away and since his death none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. He died without identifying with anybody about these funds, which has since matured and the roll-over on the funds also expired.
Please treat this business with utmost Confidentiality and send me the following data’s: Finally after that I shall provide you with more details.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION I NEED FOR THIS TRANSACTION.
1. Your full name.............................
2. Occupation.................................
3. Full Current residential address...........
4. Private phone number.......................
5. Age..................
Best Regards
Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed
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Anti-fraud resources:
