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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sgt Avigdor Pawlak" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgt.avigdorpawlak@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:29:43 -0700
Subject: Confidential...
Hello,
Sorry for the disturbance.I am a Soldier and currently i am serving with ISAF here in Afghanistan.We have access to the internet only once in a day and i would appreciate if you can understand that in further correspondence with me.
I contacted you because i am interested in investment purpose in your country.I am a Belgian-American and i am moving over to your country immediately after my retirement in 6 months time.The total money i want to invest in your country is 11.2 million USD and this is money that i made in crude oil business ever since we are stationed here.The relationship i want with you is such that will require your investment expertise as well as your sincerity.Let me explain concisely to you.
We as uniformed men are not allowed to parade such amount of money.It breaches the code of conduct in the military laws especially when such a soldier is on deployment.I have been here for 3 years and i made this money along with some other officers in crude oil business with some oil merchants here.My money is right now protected under the diplomatic umbrella of the Red Cross.The Red Cross head here is my friend and he is part of the business.He accepted to keep my money under the diplomatic security of the Red Cross until i appoint somebody as the beneficiary and the money shall be released to the person.This means that the money is in cash and kept under the diplomatic immunity of the ICRC.
I want to appoint you as the beneficiary of my money and then you can have it invested in properties for me in your country.This will be done on a 80/20 ratio and you are going to take 20 percent of the money for your investment service.I hope this is attractive enough for i know that nothing goes for nothing.I want to have this money released now because the Red Cross head is going on retirement and therefore he asked me to present a beneficiary as soon as possible.
If you accept to be sincere to me,then i shall appoint you as my beneficiary and allow the money to be released to you.This shall require you to travel to Spain and meet the Red Cross head and then all services as pertaining to a safe transfer of the money into your nominated account in your country shall be made.Note that we shall prepare a memorandum of understanding and an investment power of attorney shall be given to you.
Please get back to me if you are interested in this and provide me with your name,contact information and your investment legacies so that i can review and feed you more on what is required of you.
Have a wonderful day
Sgt Avigdor Pawlak
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