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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:
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "calvary greetings" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Harry Kabila" <harry_kabila@buduburam.com>
Reply-To: harry_kabila@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 14:12:31 -0700
Subject: I need your urgent reply
Dear God sent Sir/Ma
Calvary greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and happy
weekend to you and your family.
I'm Harry Kabila, i am from Liberia morovia my father was a good business
man in my country Liberia.
Before my father was killed by the rebels in my country Liberia he told and
give me the documents of 2 boxes of consignment which he deposited in a
security company here in Ghana.
I was made to understand that 1 of the box contained 30 million USA dollar
and that next one contend15 kg of gold dust.
Now sir/ma i want you to help me so that the gold and money will be realize
and transfer to your country, so that i can come over there and continue my
school.
I want you to understand me, because i was just given chance by the
Country Operations Assistant to try my luck and i believe that you
won't let me down, please try and get back to me as soon as you receive
this message.
I wait your responds.
Thanks and God bless you.
Harry Kabila
00233245343171
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Anti-fraud resources:
