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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:
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "peterwong2004@msn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: peterwong2004@msn.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:48:27 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend/Esteemed Compliments.
HANG SENG BANK LTD
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH,
CENTRAL HONG KONG,
I am Mr.Peter Wong,Senior executive director
of Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have a concealed
business offer for you.
General Hassan Fawzi who was with the Iraqi
forces and also a business man made a number
of fix deposit,with a value of Forty Four Million,
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars in
my (bank) branch. Please listen very carefully.
i am looking for a very serious person on the
acceptance of this business.
General Hassan Fawzi and his family died in
a bomb blast that hit their home during the
war and i found out that General Hassan Fawzi
did not declare any next of kin in his official
papers including the paper work of his bank
deposit. I just want you as a (foreigner) to
stand as the next of kin to Gen Hassan Fawzi
so that we will be able to receive his funds
where by you will be taken 50% of his funds.
i have also contacted an attorney that will
prepare the necessary document that will
back you up.
Listen this is very serious and if you are really
interested please reply to the below address
with the first step of the following details
below to proceed.
FULL NAMES:....
CONTACT ADDRESS:....
OCCUPATION:....
GENDER:....
PHONE:FAX:....
CONTACT
Peter Wong ( peterwong2004@msn.com )
Regards,
Mr. Peter Wong
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Anti-fraud resources:
