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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)
- "western union" (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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mr.jamesknight92@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Meilse Erc <meilseerc@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: mr.jamesknight92@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 16:09:16 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: GET BCAK I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU
TOP OF TODAY NOV 9,2011,MY GOOD FRIEND AM HERE TO TELLING YOU GOOD NEWS AND UNDERSTAND ME WELL PLEASE FEDERAL MINNSTRY OF FINANCE BENIN REPUBLIC SAYING THAT ALL FUNDS HERE MOST TRANSFER THIS MONTH BECAUSE AFTER THIS MONTH ALL THE FUNDS WILL CANCEL AND MY FRIEND I KNOW WANT YOU TO LOSE YOU FUND ANY MORE AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND CAN YOU TELLING US HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SEND TO THIS COUNTRY BENIN PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I WANT VERY THING TRUTH, RIGHT NOW ANSWER THIS QUESTION DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVED YOU FUNDS THUR WESTERN UNION OR D H L COMPANY OR BANK TO BANK TRANSFER JUST LET ME KNOW ANY ONE YOU WANT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO RECEIVED YOU FUNDS THIS MONTH AND MAKE SURE YOU TELLING TRUE ON THIS REMEMBER BANK TRANSFER WILL TRANSFER ONCE AND WESTERN UNION WILL TRANSFER EVERY DAY BY DAY UNTILL YOU RECEIVED YOU FUNDS COMPLETE AND D H L WILL TAKE ONLY TWO DAYS TO GEY TO YOU ADDRESS SO RIGHT NOW I WILL LIKE YOU TO REPLY SOON BECAUSE TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 9,2011,
THERE FORE AM WAITING TO HERE FROM YOU TO KNOW WERE THE FUNDS TO TAKE GET TO YOU DOOR STAP AND CONTACT ME WITH THIS MAIL;(mr.jamesknight92@yahoo.com) IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVED YOU FUND AND TELLING ME WHAT I ASKING YOU WAIT FOR YOU SOON? MR JAMES KNIGHT
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Anti-fraud resources:
