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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million united states 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Sumato Phillips<mrnelson2007@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:39:25 -0800
Subject: PROFITABLE INVESTMENT
Dear Sir/Madam
i am Mr Sumato Phillips a banker with Standard Bank Of South Africa, i will
be retiring by end of July this year as a banker and i want to use this
opportunity to create for my children life investment oversea before I retired,
in my department i have been following up with some fund since last 2 years
now i want to transfer this money to your account for investment, the amount
involve is (Fourteen Million United States Dollars) this money is not anybodies
money it comes as over interest in foreign investor panel. I never steal it
from any body as i am a god fearing man.
if you are ready to help me receive this money in your account i will give
30% of this fund and the balance of 70% will be for my son investment in your
country. i am capable of transfer the money to your account within 4-5 bank
working days without any problem. if you are capable to receive this money
get back to me with the below information complete.
Full Name:
Full Address:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Mobile Number:
Private Email:
Age:
Occupation:
Country Of Origin:
Sex:
Marital Status:
i guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.
thanks and god bless
Mr Sumato Phillips
74 sandown, linden road
Johannesburg South Africa
TEL: +27 79 221 2325
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Anti-fraud resources:
