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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:
- "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: idirissa marta <linda_2david@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: idirissa marta <idirissamarta@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 13:39:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HELLO
Hello.
I am Miss Linda David the only daughty of late Mr and Mrs.David
My late parents deposit sum of Four million five hundred thousand United State Dollars as a gift item package in a delivery company in my country and he used my name as next of Kin for deposit the package.
My late parents told me that i should seek for a partner who will help me so that package will deliver to your country.
Please, I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To serve as a guardian of this money.
(2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country.
3) To assist me in investing this money in any lucrative business in your country.
Moreover, Please I will like you tell me how many percentage that you will require for
assisting me.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Sincerely
Linda David
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Anti-fraud resources:
