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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "keep it 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)
- "can i trust you?" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Hon Richardson Frick <addresslink@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: richardsonmcbrian@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 08:02:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Willing To Assist
Attn:
Common Wealth of Nations have released the sum of $3.1billion USD for African Youths Empowerment Program (AYEP) so that the money could be use to help The unemployed youth to start a better life.
Fund have been received and paid to the account of the selected NGOS(Non Governmental Organization).
However,I confirmed that about 230 NGOS selected are not registered and did not meet up the requirements of Common Wealth to benefit from the fund.
Total of ($12,000,000.00 USD) is currently awaiting for transfer,I have decide to move the fund to an unknown destination for future use after my retirement.My question here is Can I trust you? Contact me immediately with your account information,and any of your Identity.
You will be instructed on what to do next, you are strictly advice to keep it confidential till you confirm the fund in your account.
Hon Richardson Frick
Common Wealth Representative
Africa Regional Centre
Heritage Tower
PO Box 305432
Accra Ghana
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Anti-fraud resources:
