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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)
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sani Mustapha <sanimustapha2011@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: sanimustapha2011@one.co.il
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 02:04:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Its 100% Risk free and Legitimate.
Dear friend,
I am indeed glad to be in contact with you even
though this medium of communication (internet) has been grossly abused by some
people making it difficult for other once with genuine struggle to correspond
and exchange views without skepticism.
I am Mr. Sani Mustapha. Currently
the Audit and Account Unit Manager in (BOA) Bank Of Africa Burkina-Faso
(Ouagadougou) West Africa, my aim of contacting you is to collaborate with me to
transfer the sum of ($18.5 Million Dollars) into your personal or Company bank
account in your country of origin for investment purpose.
I am going to
invest this money in your country through your assistance and help, whereby you
will be my Investment & deputy/assistant director.
Please if you are
interested and ready to receive the money into your bank account i will send you
the details of the fund and when replying i want you to tell me the type of
investment that will be encourage for both of us to invest so that we can talk
about the conditions.
Please endeavor to include your full names and
address, private phone and fax number for easy communication.
Finally
keep our dealings very private and confidential as i wait your urgent
response.
1) Your full names.........................
2) Your
age.......................................
3) Your full
address..............................
3) Your marital status.........
4)
Your occupation/Profession..................
5)Your company name........................
6) Your direct
telephone number........
7) Your fax
number.................................
8) Your country of origin
............................
9) Your present
location/country..................
10 Your
religion................................
Thanks,
Yours
sincerely
Mr. Sani
Mustapha
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