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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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "alangant2112@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Alan Grant" <cs@unitedoptical.com.hk>
Reply-To: alangrant212@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 00:35:02 -0300
Subject: Urgent Assistance Is Needed
Dear Sir/Ma,
This is a confidential business proposal after my last audit and based on information i obtained from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Switzerland. I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $15.8Million (fifteen million Eight Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars) into your accounts.
The previous sum recovered during my Auditing of the files which was use to execute some contract about 5 years ago i discovered this was over-billing for contract executed, commissioned and paid for about five years (5) ago by a foreign contractor Mr Gilbert F Munoz.
During my investigation to locate Mr Gilbert F Munoz to come and claim is fund i discovered that he was late about 2 years ago.
I tried to locate any of is family but i couldn't get any information about is relative since then i have been searching for a trust and honest person who can handle this transaction for me because i believe this is a golden opportunity for me to achieve my aim in life.
This action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in Financial Advisory Firm in Switzerland.
Now I am ready to transfer this funds abroad for investment which is the reason why I am contacting you to come and stand as the next of kin to late Mr Gilbert F Munoz the contractor.
i will supply you all the necessary information that will guide you to the Financial Instituation please note that the Financial Advisor in charge of the fund must not know or suspect that i am leaking out this secret or given you any information about this fund.
Because the bank and Financial top officials wanted to forfeit the fund and inherited it for themselves since there is nobody to come and claim it.
And it is forbidden for me as an officer to operate a foreign account that's why I need your help.
The total sum will be shared as follows: 40% for me, 40% for you,15% for charity and 5% for local and international expenses will be set aside to cover up all the expenses that might occur during the retrieval of the fund from the Financial Firm after the fund is transfer to your account.
This transaction is risk free on both sides if you find this proposal acceptable i will need the following details below:
Full Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Country
Phone Number
Cell Number
Fax number
Marital Status
Age
Occupation
Driver's License or Passport International
I will feed you more details about the fund and the contact details of the bank if you are ready to transact this business with me as soon as possible.
This business will take us thirty (30) days to perform. So kindly send me the details requested above to my private mail: alangant2112@outlook.com Please reply urgently.
Best regards
Mr Alan Grant
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