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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "EMMANUEL Barb" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <k_touremm@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:05:02 -0800
Subject: Dearest, I Need Your Sincere Respond and Attension!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Dearest,
I am introducing my self as Miss. EMMANUEL Bard, the only Daughter of late Mr. and Mrs EMMANUEL JOSEPH, I wish to request for your
assistance in a financial Transaction. And I wish to invest in Manufacturing and real estate management in your country.
I have US$5000,000.00(Five million United States dollars) To invest in your country, and I will require your assistance in helping me stand
as my foreign guardian to claim this (Consignment)out from security company to your country where my late parent deposit the money before their death.
I will be gladly to give you 30% out of the total sum for your honest assistance.
The consignment was deposited in Africa and was leter lifted to Europe where the consignment is now under the care of the security company diplomat in Europe .
Please it's very important you contact me immediately on my private e-mail for further explanation on the whole entire plan
Note that this transaction is 100& free risk
Awaiting your immediate response
Best Regards
Miss Emmanuel Barb.
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Anti-fraud resources:
