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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)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "hundred thousand us 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: contact@alibrothers.com.pk
Reply-To: johnnytancredi@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:55:35 +0500 (PKT)
Subject: Investment
Dear friend,
I write to solicit your assistance in a project of mutual benefit
and regret any inconveniences contacting you this way with my proposal.
I was the former Head of Accounts Department at the Diamond Mining
Company of Sierra Leone.
I'm in urgent need of a foreign associate to work with us to
facilitate the transfer of a large sum of Money which we intend to
invest into profitable areas of business in your country. The funds
currently secured with a security company is legitimate money
rightfully belonging to me which was earned from private diamond
business deals during our time as top officials at the Diamond
Mining Company of Sierra Leone.
Due to unstable political and economic environments in Sierra Leone, it is
not quite safe investing ones financial future in this part of the
World. We are currently living in London and the capital involved is
fifty million five hundred thousand US Dollars.
However, as a result of the regulations here, I cannot transfer the
funds to your country without having an associate there. I am
writing to know if you could be my overseas associate and partner to handle
the transaction privately at your end, whereby the funds shall be
transferred through your country.Please, give me your response immediately
by return mail.
Best Regards
Mr.J.Tancredi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
