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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 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: "Mr. Borihane Soglo" <borihane.soglo@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: borihanesoglo@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:28:27 +0100
Subject: Kind Regards
Compliment of the day,
I am writing this letter in confidence believing to receive your urgent
response. I am willing to make you an offer that will surely improve and
enhance the effectiveness of your firm since I am in need of an honest and
a trust worthy person to do joint business with. I am the foreign affairs
Director of Bank Atlantique, Benin and I am writing to solicit your
assistance and co-operation in the transfer of the sum of Nine million
eight hundred thousand united states dollars (US$9,800.000.00) meant for
investment purpose.
This fund shall be transferred to your designated bank account and will be
invested in your company while I will come in as a share holder of the
company. I will give you the full details of this fund and its origin as
soon as I receive your response and interest. Bear in mind that there is no
risk at all in this transaction rather as the foreign affairs director, I
cannot be directly connected to the transfer of this money thus I am
impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your
bank account on my behalf while we invest it in your firm.
The transfer of the fund shall be done through bank-to-bank transfer. All I
need from you is to stand as the beneficiary and I shall make available to
you every information needed to get the funds remitted into your account.
Conditions and terms will be discussed as soon as I hear from you.
Regards,
Dr. Borihane Soglo
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Anti-fraud resources:
