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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN BANNERMAN <jbannerman076@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnbannerman835@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:47:48 -0500
Subject: THIS MAY INTEREST YOU
--
RE: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The Sum of One Hundred and Fifteen Million United State American
Dollars in cash was concealed in a Six Trunk Boxes and deposited under
private arrangement with our International Security Company operating
in the Republic of Ghana. The Original Owner of the Funds died Nine
Years ago and ever since the death of the Depositor, nobody has come
for the claiming of the Six Trunk Boxes that contained the cash funds
as specified above. I therefore come to you privately to consider my
offer by partnering with me to claim the Six Trunk Boxes on a sharing
ratio of 50/50 but bear in mind that you will be required to make a
trip to Republic of Ghana to perfect the claiming of the Six Trunk
Boxes as the New Beneficiary. Should this offer interest you, kindly
send me your direct telephone numbers for discussion of this Business
Deal in full details.
Thank you for your understanding.
Truly Yours
John Bannerman
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Anti-fraud resources:
