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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 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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "david kim" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <d_kim124@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:22:44 +0100
Subject: RE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY PRC
Department of Foreign
Currency Exchange
Ministry of Finance
People's Republic of China
Dear, I Am David Kim An Account Superintendent of the Above Government Department in China I am contacting you for an urgent
Business offer that will be beneficial for both side.
However, be informed My Department is in Charge of foreign currency Transaction in my Country china and as the case might be,
One of Our Top Directors have approached me to Make urgently Reliable Contacts Abroad of a corporate Organization or
Individual Of Respected Character that can be trusted to receive in his Account the Sum of USD25M. (Twenty five Million
Dollars) This will be used for Investment in your country.
Apparently The Funds Was Derived from Yearly Government Re- Current Financial Budgeted funds in the Treasury Account which
was un-utilized and the Director General And two other top officials have empowered Me to Negotiate For The Transfer Of The
Funds To any Good Account Abroad.
Please Note this is highly Confidential Matter due to our communist policy and should be handled with top Secrecy. The funds
has been Approved for Transfer and we need your company's information or Your Personal Details and Bank Coordinates to
process the Payment And. have it Transferred.
Consequently you are Receiving 30% of this Money upon the Successful Completion Of the transaction and you are assured there
is no risk in your participation. Everything will be handled with utmost carefulness.
Finally be informed this Transaction Will Be Concluded within Ten working daysWaiting for your Immediate Response to Commence
the Transaction.
Regards
David Kim
Account Superintendent
Ministry of finance People's Republic of China.
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Anti-fraud resources:
