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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 american 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- sgtmills078@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "SGT JOE MILLS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgtmills078@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:28:31 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend.
Hello ,
Good day, I hope my message meets you well. My name is Sgt. JOE MILLS. I am a British military officer attached with NATO squad for Libya revolution process. During one of our house to house parade in the houses of top Gaddafi loyalists in a state here called Sirte, I discovered a total sum of $13 Million American dollars in a money box. I have managed to move the money out of Libya with the help of a Red cross official whom was working here during the war. He has managed to deposit the money box with a reputable security company in Malaysia.
I just received a confirmation email from the security company 2 days ago that the money is now safe in their bank. I am now seeking for your partnership to receive this money in your country since I can not invest the money in my country and I am still on a mission which will end by April next year. I am keeping this transaction confidential even the company don't know the content of the consignment because the Red cross official deposited it as relief materials from Red cross. He also use my name as the donor and that is why the security company contacted me directly waiting for my approval on whom and where to send the consignment immediately.
Can I trust you ? Once you receive the fund 40% of the money belongs to you and keep my own 60%. Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place where the fund can be kept while my own part is sending it to me through a safe and risk free means. If you are interested I will furnish you with more details. I have only 4 days to move out this money because I am on our military base now and that is why I have access to internet. I will be going back to the desert where we have our check point in 5 days time and I will not have access to internet if I go back to desert.
Awaiting your urgent response only if you are interested in the deal and you are ready to make it 100% confidential.
Regards,
Sgt. Joe Mills.
E-mail: sgtmills078@gmail.com
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