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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: "Mrs.Sandra Ramos" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sandyukab@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2014 19:14:16 -0500
Subject: Re;Investment
Greetings ,
My Name is Dr.Mrs Sandra Ramos am a Romanian citizen i work in United Nation Medical Center in SYRIA.Please due to political instability and War here i want you to assist me to receive the sum of $12.7m(Twelve Million,Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)Only for safe keeping in your country for me,i have arrange with my bank manager to move the funds to you and he suggested that he will issue either Bankdraft or ATM VISA OR MASTERCARD and give you PIN CODE and send by either Fedex or Dhl courier to your Norminated address in your country.please kindly send your Contact address and your phone number so that i will foward to my bank manager.please when you received these funds take 30% of the total sum and keep 70% for safekeeping because in october these year i will relocate my family to your country.When i get your reply i will give you the Direct phone number of my bank manager so that you can call him for more discussion.Thanks
Mrs Sandra Ramos
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Anti-fraud resources:
