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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "theboardofdirector@voila.fr" <theboardofdirector@voila.fr>
Reply-To: babananhabib@yahoo.dk
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 19:25:47 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Happy New Year I hope you are interested?
Good day,Sorry to distract your attention. Dearest One, I am writing this mail with tears and sorrowto seek for your assistance regards to my situation I am manager in bank of Africa. I hoped you will not expose or betray this essage as trust? I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of($25.million) dollars immediately into your own bank account. Please for yourunderstanding, I will send you the full details on how this transaction will beexecuted, but first I want you to assure me your capability of handling thisproject with trust by providing me your following information details such as: (1)Name..............(2)Age...(3)Sex...(4)PhoneNumber...(5)Occupation...(6)YourCountry...Please thisis very confidential and urgent as well. If you are interested please forwardme the information's I need of you immediately, Thanks fromBabana .H
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Anti-fraud resources:
