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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Rueben Martins <ruebenmartins@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ruebenmartins@consultant.com
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2013 00:36:02 +0200
Subject: For Your Consideration
Dear Sir,
This is for your consideration.I am Rueben Martins and I have a business
proposition for you.I am a manager with a security company in South Africa
where the late Col Muamma Gaddafi family have lodged and deposited over
$1Billion in United States Dollars Cash. There is currently no record of
this deposit to the public or any third person except his son who has been
killed in the uprising in Libya.
I would like to know if you would be interested in assisting me. Are you a
business man? I need detail about you so I would give you information on
how we can work together to transfer Muamma Gaddafi hidden billions from my
country South Africa safely to your country of residence.
The total funds is valued at over a Billion Dollars but we can be able to
move $25 Million to you. Let me know if we can do this together.
So if we can work together you and I we can remit $25 Million United States
Dollars to you with procedures and you and I would share the proceeds 50/50
Endeavour to send your secured telephone and fax numbers for further
details upon your acceptance of this proposal.
I have reposed confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint
me.Kindly notify me by email or call me on my telephone number letting me
know your decision on your ability to handle this project.
Read news :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22745618
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/10119100/South-Africa-to-hand-back-Col-Gaddafis-money.html
http://www.citypress.co.za/politics/war-for-gaddafi-billions-2/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/02/gaddafis-banker-saleh-south-africa
Thank you,
Mr Rueben Martins
Tel#: +27 875 502 426
Fax#: +27 862 244 560
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Anti-fraud resources:
