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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- email-mrallanstreet@accountant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- of this mail. best regards, dr james smith email-mrallanstreet@accountant.com email-accountantalanstreet@yahoo.ca (Accountant, Canada; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Alan Van Street" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrallanstreet@accountant.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 01:08:49 +0200
Subject: A TRUST WORTHY INVESTOR/BUSINESS MAN NEEDED URGENTLY
Monday 16th July 2012.
Compliments of the month,
My names are Dr Alan Van Street, an oil business consultant based in Johannesburg South Africa,
I got your esteemed contact during my search here for a Capable, reliable
and trustworthy individual from your country.
My Proposal:
There is an amount of 32Million Euros that has being deposited in a
security company in the Netherlands in Europe, and I need you to stand as
my partner and assist me transfer this funds over to Canada for investment.
I would like you to stand in as a middle man between me and the Security Company.
The funds in question are from the supply of Crude oil to a company in
Las Palmas Spain and the payment has since being made to the Global
Platinum Finance and Security Netherland.
As soon as I have concluded arrangements with the Security Company and
notify them that my partner would be contacting them in some day's time
then you will contact them as my partner and start the procedures of
transferring these funds from the Netherlands to your country where I
intend to invest these funds in a viable business.
For now I would want you to send me all your particulars like name
Address telephone and fax numbers and I would also want you to send me a
Xerox copy of your international passport or driver's license. This would
enable me nominate you as my business partner and submit your particulars
to the Security company this week.
I would give you further details and documents as regards this
Transaction when I have your particulars and I will also send you a
Partnership agreement deed that we both have to study and sign as soon as We are in agreement.
I await your prompt response to the receipt of this mail.
Best regards,
Dr James Smith
Email-mrallanstreet@accountant.com
Email-accountantalanstreet@yahoo.ca
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Anti-fraud resources:
