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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 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Toppa Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <simon2legallive.zing.vn@mail.vrt.bg>
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:31:36 +0100
Subject: ATTN.BENEFICIARY, URGENT REPLY NEEDED !!!!!!!!!
This to inform you of your FILE NUMBER:AB1001/08 submitted to our office and confirmed
of transactions made by you and as not executed. Concluded in 2010, the LEGAL AFFAIRS
DPT. of her country is given to every citizen of the transaction made with the FEDERAL
REP. of NIGERIA to be paid to her country should be funded to every of her country
citizens of unexcited transaction made in the country
the sum of $1.5 MILLION dollars (1.5 million usd) in accordance to their
failed transaction made in her country.
PLEASE acknowledge this because
your file number above was sent, your fund
will be made as you respond quickly:THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE SENT TO
FULL NAME ........
ADDRESS ..........
SEX ..............
AGE ..............
COUNTRY ............
COMPANY NAME.........
TRANSACTION MADE......
BARRISTER SIMON ORJI
LEGAL FUND ADMINISTRATOR
EMAIL:simon2legallive@zing.vn
NOTE:COPY MAIL IN MESSAGE TO REPLY THIS MAIL RESPECTIVELY NO MISTAKES AND ...
Best Regards
Toppa Cole
District Attorney General.
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Anti-fraud resources:
