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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)
- "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: "D.Q.Philip,Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <phil_esq@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 19:55:39 +0100
Subject: To Whom It May Concern
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a Financial Advocate/Consultants based in the Republic of Ghana.West Africa. I brought a profit oriented Business Deal to your door-step for your consideration. I have a Client (Now Deceased) that served as the Group Managing Director of Ghana Petroleum Corporation for 12 years and under private arrangements,the sum of US$68million in cash was concealed on Two Trunk Boxes and deposited with an indigenous Finance Corporation known as MapSec Finance and Security Company for intelligent safekeeping without trace.This cash deposit as mentioned herein was made as at 4 years ago. My client passed away on the 28th of June,2013. I come to you to seek your collaboration to stand as the New Owner of the aforementioned deposit so as to perfect a Change of Beneficiary whereby you will be made the New Beneficiary in accordance to the law. Our sharing ratio will be 50/50 but bear in mind that you will be required to make a trip to Ghana where the two trunk boxes that contained the cash funds of the $68million will be
Best Regards,
Mr.D.Q.Philip,Esq
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Anti-fraud resources:
