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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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Jim Rockett <ohrudka@upcmail.cz>
Reply-To: <jimcombats@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:36:13 +0700
Subject: Happy New Year! (Urgent)...
Good Day,
How are you and your family? Hope all is well. My name is Capt. Jim Rockett.I am an American soldier, serving in U.S Military here in Kabul,what about you?
I am in very desperate need for assistance and that is why I have summed up courage to contact you. I found your contact particulars in an address journal. I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of Eight Million United States Dollars to you as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.
I believe that we may be leaving Afghanistan soon as promised by Obama our president. Please, if you can help me with this fund get back to me for more details and I will
let you know more what this transaction holds.
Yours-in-service,
Capt. Jim
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Anti-fraud resources:
