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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:
- "million 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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rusmah Arunan" <rusmah@lawbiz-info.com>
Reply-To: rusmaharunan@lawyer.com
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2013 14:02:45 -0400
Subject: GET BACK TO ME
Compliment of the day.
Definitely, I know this mail will be coming to you as a Surprise. I want
to seek your understanding and co-operation with me so that we can work
together in a venture that will benefit both of us if properly executed.
My late Client deposited the sum of $12.5 Million United State Dollars in
a Financial Institution and I would like to seek your help thereby
requesting you to stand as the next of kin/beneficiary to the said fund
and once claimed, we can share the fund in an agreed percentage and go
into investment project.
I will be very happy to go into a possible investment co-operation in your
country with the money by the special grace of God once everything goes
successfully. I can assure you 100% risk free. I will give you further
details as soon as I hear from you. Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
Rusmah Arunan & Assoc
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Anti-fraud resources:
