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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "prince.darren@gmx.com" (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: "Prince Darren" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <prince.darren@gmx.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:47:35 -0000
Subject: Its Very Important ......I Need Help Urgently...! ! !
Dear Friend,
I am Prince Darren from liberia, I have my late parent inheritance fund with the Bank here with Capital Direct Bank Plc. My parent last name happen to have the same Surname as yours.The fund is now without any claim because my parent made it know to the bank before they died that it should be use for investment and has to be a foreign investor. I want your cooperation to make the bank transfer the fund to you as the beneficiary and foreign partner, the bank maybe force to impound the fund and take it which is not right.
This transaction will be of great mutual assistance to us,as every paper work and legal step will be handle by a good lawyer. for the transfer of the fund to be in your account peacefully without any delay or problem...
Send me email if you are interested to help me urgently please ( prince.darren@gmx.com)
I hope and look forward to hear from you.
Thanks
Prince Darren
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Anti-fraud resources:
