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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million united states 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)
- 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.
- shafikgabar@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "shafik Gabar" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shafikgabar@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:48:13 -0800
Subject: lucurative venture
Dear sir/madam
With trust and confidence that i write to make this urgent
business proposal to you. My name Is shafik
But Iam presently in west Africa
for safety and also seeking for a reliable and
trust-worthy fellow from any foreign country to assist me
in investing in any of lucurative venture i made some
funds when i was in government in my country when crisis
broke up i have to relocate to the West Africa, This said funds
was deposited with one of the Banking vault Department for
safety and investment Purpose.The said amount is {Fifteen
million United States dollars,($15 Million).my area of
interest of investiment is Real Estate or hospitality ,oil
and gas, Agricultural, or if you have other idea of any lucurative
business that we can invest into in your country you can
also advice me as we are going to be partner. please get back to me
(shafikgabar@yahoo.co.jp) as I was strictly informed that
a foreigner cannot operate a bank account that will carry
such an amount and direct foreigner investment is not
allowed in some country except on a joint venture. So I
want you to assist me so that we can move this fund to your
Country and 35% percent will be offered to you for the
transaction I am eagerly waiting for your reply.
Regards,
shafik
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