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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- approval.firms002@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: APPROVAL FIRMS <approval.firmsza3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: approval.firmsza4@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 02:09:29 -0500
Subject: I HAVE INITIALLY SEND YOU THIS LETTER.
( Investment inquiry on behalf of my client )
In view of the urgent and private nature of our intentions to go into a joint
investment program with your establishment, We wish and request that
you forward
to us the direct contact to the CEO of your Establishment.
I am soliciting your humble attentions to this matter as we will like to
discuss the terms and conditions of investment policies before we can
commence with the perfection of documentations that will assume you
the venture
beneficiary of the investment funds.
My clients (family) has in their the disposal 180 Million United State Dollars
investment sum, that they wish for your venture`s co operation in securing and
investing these funds into the financial system of your state without
any complication,
We have confidence in your investment opportunities to withstand the
value of those
funds for the required period of time we agree on.
I will also like you to treat this my humble request with integrity and
confidentiality as the political system in my nation demands that we
secure and
invest those funds now without delay.
Please be fast to forward his e-mail addressee, mobile phone number,
and direct
fax line so that we can communicate with him without further delay.
We also expect you to inform and alert him of our mail
E-mail:approval.firms@outlook.com
E-MAIL:approval.firms002@gmail.com
Thanks and always remain blessed.
Kareem Ahmed
(On behalf of the family)
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Anti-fraud resources:
