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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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 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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- guangchen776@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Chen Guangyuan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <guangchen776@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 17:10:47 +0200
Subject: Kindly consider this proposal
Good Day,
Let me start by introducing myself.I am Mr.Chen Guangyuan director of operations from Bank of china.
I contacting you independently for a mutual business transaction that worth 15.5 million dollars ($15,500,000).Fifteen millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only
I will need you to assist me in transferring this fund to your country for a business investment for both of us.
Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall invest 60% of the fund in your country then share the remain 40% equal for our personal needs.
If you are interested in the business kindly reply to my personal email (guangchen776@yahoo.com.hk) for further details.
Await your response.
Kind Regards,
Mr.Chen Guangyuan.
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Anti-fraud resources:
