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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:
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Geoffrey Miller <geoffmiler2000@live.com>
Reply-To: geoffmiller2000@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:35:30 +0300
Subject: Important and urgent
--
Good day,
I'm Geoffrey Miller of the US-NATO COALITION troops in
Afghanistan.I have now in my possession the sum of $10.5 million which
was recovered from one of our raids on terrorists camps here in
Afghanistan,because they keep most of their money at home for evil
activities which they normally get through illegal deals on crude oil
and Opium.
Based on the suffering we undergo here some of us do meet such luck.
It happened that in our last raid we raided one of the terrorist
strong base here in Afghanistan and we recovered this huge sum. This
box of money have been deposited with the RED CROSS OFFICE here in
Kabul for its safe keeping pending on the availability of the rightful
owner.As the commander of the units,it is under my power to approve
whoever comes forth for this funds.
I need someone i can deal with on trust that is why i contacted you.
so If you accept, I will put you forward as the beneficiary of the
fund and then move the box to you . As a military personnel i cannot
parade or claim such an amount,so i need to present someone as the
beneficiary with my military hierarchy of command.I just need your
acceptance and all is done.I have a 100% authentic means of
transferring the money through diplomatic courier service to you.i am
willing to give you 30% of the total sum the moment the box of money
is delivered to you.
Once i confirm your interest and positive reply i will proceed to
register your name as the beneficiary.waiting for your response .I
sincerely seek your indulgence to give this proposal a positive thought.
Regards
Geoffrey Miller
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