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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:
- "million pounds" (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: "UK FINANCE INVESTMENT LTD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <UK.FINANCE@englandmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 05:14:00 +0530
Subject: WE SEEK FOREIGN PARTNER/REPRESENTATIVE
UK FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD
Orion House,5 Upper St Martin's Lane
London WC2H 9EA UK
Tell:0044-8719741677
Fax: 0044-8445001198
ATTN: Sir/Madam
We are please to introduce ourselves as UK Finance & Investment Ltd, We are in urgent need of FOREIGN PARTNER/REPRESENTATIVE in your country,We have £ 10 Million Great Britain Pounds for investment purpose in your country due to the current business development and rapid economics growth of your country.
We want any reliable person to receive this funds in respect of our company and invest it on any profitable sector(s) of his/her choice in your country(on an agreed terms), We will offer you 10% of the £ 10 Million Great Britain Pounds which is £ 1 Million Pounds ,Please urgently get back to us if you are interested and reliable. E-Mail Us UK.FINANCE@fastservice.com
Thanking you for your interest and looking forward to invest with you for life time venture(s).
Mr.Jim O'Neil
INVESTMENT MANAGER
UK FINANCE & INVESTMENT LTD.
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Anti-fraud resources:
