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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:
- "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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- robert.hanson76@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Robert Hanson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robert.hanson76@yahoo.es>
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 14:43:18 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend
Sir/Madam,
I am the Audit Manager here with the British Contract Award Committee (BCAC) have the sum of $10.6Million(Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) which we got from over-inflated contracts, that was awarded to a foreign contractors under the Shell petroleum company. We are seeking your permission to transfer this money into your account in your country, and we will be coming there for our own share of the funds. This money will be shared between you , myself and our lawyer here in United Kingdom. Your commission will be 30% of the total sum while 10% will be mapped out to offset any expenses incurred during the transaction. The lawyer have all the legal framework covering the contract payment, so you will only need to present yourself as the contractor while we edit your name and fix as
the contract executor. This deal need urgent action and it must be strictly confidential.
Please let me know if you are interested in this business by the above email address.
More details of this business will be sent to you on hearing from you. For effective communication in this transaction, please send to me your confidential telephone and fax number including private home or mobile number.
I will send to you my confidential telephone and fax number on hearing from you. Note: This transaction will last only 12 working days.
Yours Faithfully.
Mr. Robert Hanson
e-Mail :robert.hanson76@yahoo.es
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Anti-fraud resources:
