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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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Sellers Brooks <info@inheritance.com>
Reply-To: whusker@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:54:26 +1100
Subject: Congratulation
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
DEAR SIR/MA,
AM MR Sellers FROM OSARIEMEN.CO.LTD SECURITY COMPANY
WHICH IS SPONSORED BY WELLS-FARGO BANK IN CHICAGO
AMERICA AND AM EMAILING YOU BECAUSE YOUR DOMAIN CHOSE
YOU HAS ONE OF THE 25-LUCKY WINNER FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO ONE OF OUR
RICHEST LATE CLIENT NAMED MR DOAK FRANCIS WHO DEAD FEW
YEAR AGO AND LEFT OVER $25 MILLION Dollars UNDER OUR
SECURITY COMPANY WHICH WAS BANKED IN WELLS-FARGO AND
RIGHT ABOUT NOW YOU ARE NOW THE RIGHTFUL NEXT OF KIN TO
MR FRANCIS AND THESE MEAN YOU ARE ENTITLE TO CLAIM THE
FUND SO NOW ALL WHAT WE WILL BE NEEDING FROM YOU FIRST
ARE
FIRST NAME.........................
LAST NAME.........................
NATIONALITY.......................
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Anti-fraud resources:
