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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million british pounds" (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.
- henrymogan_a@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "henry umtanta" <henryumtanta@yahoo.co.za>
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 17:05:01 +0200
Subject: READ IT: TRANSACTION PROPOSAL.
Dear Sir/Madam.
I am Henry Umtanta, an accountant with the ministry
of Energy and natural resources South Africa,
presently we discovered the sum of 19.6 million
British pounds sterling, floating in our suspense
Account.
This money as a matter of fact was an over invoiced
Contract payment which has been approved for payment
Since 2009, now we want to secretly transfer
This money out for our personal use into an overseas
Account if you will allow us to use your account to
Receive this fund, we shall give you 30% for all your
Effort and expenses you will incur if you agree to Help.
This is just a brief detail on this transaction
If you are ready and will to give us a chance please
For more confidentiality Contact me back
for more details you can get back to me.
Alternative mail:henrymogan_a@hotmail.com
Thanks & God Bless
Henry Umtanta
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Anti-fraud resources:
