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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:
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "mrjohn_allen01@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Mohd Manan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gt43826@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2013 04:18:27 +0530
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,
Dear Beneficiary,
I have received the check from bank three days a go and kept the check
with Mr. John Allen Oor as we discussed. Please mail him immediately to
send the check to you.
I am in Madrid for tour, I keep the $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) cashier check with Steven and will
send you the rest of money after my business trip here. I send you so many
mails but all prove abortive. So mail Mr. John Allen with below email for
him to send the check to you: { mrjohn_allen01@admin.in.th } Thanks and do
let me know when you receive your money and forward the below details
along when making contact with him.
1. FULL NAME:___________________
2. ADDRESS:___________ __________
3. E-MAIL ADDRESS:______________
4. TELEPHONE NUMBER:_________________
5: OCCUPATION: _____________________
Hoping to hear from you.
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Mr. Mohd Manan.
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Anti-fraud resources:
