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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united states 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: "Amy Lutjens" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alutjens@blumail.org>
Date: Tue, 10 May 2011 08:13:06 +0200
Subject: Your assistance will gladden my heart
Hello,
I know you will be wondering why I must contact you to do this but this is the only thing i could think of now since my husband's relatives are after me. I am Amy Lutjens and I was married to my late husband for 21 years without any child. He died in auto crash and before his death i had cancer of the lungs which affected me severely denying me the ability to talk and walk well. Doctors advised that i could live for less than half a year though i still believe that God will help me.
I have Six million United States dollars ($6million) in two trunks deposited with a security company as my family valuable not as fund. I made up my mind to use the money for charity organizations, the needy and orphanages instead of my husband's relatives having it.
If you are capable of handling this project when the trunks are delivered to you, then I will like you to send your full names, delivery address and phone number so i could make an authorization letter to certify you as the beneficiary of the trunks. You will assure me that you will use the funds judiciously as I have stated herein.
God bless you and I await your response.
Amy
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Anti-fraud resources:
