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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Patricia Spencer" <patspe@blumail.org>
Reply-To: patspe1@blumail.org
Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 15:30:20 -0700
Subject: Compliments of the day!
Dear friend,
Greetings to you; My name is Patricia Spencer the wife of late Mr. Francis Spencer who was murdered by an agent of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for Zimbabweans opposition party and over a land dispute. This land problem arose when the President Introduced a new Land Act that wholly affected the rich white farmers but some few blacks vehemently condemned the modus adopted by the government which resulted in rampant killing and mob actions.
My husband was among the few richest Zimbabwean farmers and during his initial period of explosive farm growth he took me to Dubai,United Arab Emirates to deposit the sum of Twelve Million United States Dollars in a Security Company and declared the contents as family treasure because he knew the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited as gem/precious stones in order to avoid much demurrage and it were earmarked for the purchase of machinery with chemicals for our farms and also for the establishment of new farms in Lesotho. Consequently, during the massacres I was tortured to the point of death but due to the divine grace of God and the help of International Rescue Committee I was able to escape to Europe with my only son Daniel and we are currently staying in a refugee camp. However, I am contacting you because I need your help to retrieve my family inheritance from the deposit agent into your account.
Please I anxiously need for your assistance because the immigration law over here does not allow asylum seekers to travel or operate bank account. Although this issue may be difficult for you to comprehend but it is certainly the truth and I am privy to all Information that will be use to facilitate the release of the funds to you. So if you are willing to assist me kindly reply my mail by indicating your interest, thereafter percentage and more information will be relayed to you on my next mail.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Patricia Spencer
Please visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1738520.stm
http://www.frontline.org.za/news/zimbabwe_mugabe.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/archive/2205261.stm
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Anti-fraud resources:
