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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)
- "million 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)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Paul Johnson <paul.akakpo11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrpaul.johnson2014@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:53:21 +0100
Subject: Claim your payment alert offer in your favor.
--
Dear Friend (Urgent)
This may come as surprise to you but don't ignore this opportunity.
I am Mr. Paul Johnson Operation Payment Dept Manager Royal
Micro-finance Investment Co, Lome Togo. On 22nd October 2013 this is
to inform you PAYMENT alert of $13.5million dollars have finally
approved in your name which i putted all arrangement you inherited
with the bank by my support here in the Royal Micro-finance Investment
Co.
Dear Friend for my alert over the inheritance in your favor i will
surely assist and support you for the claim of the inheritance fund
successful get to you.
Once more on your immediate response i will forward contact details to
the paying bank as we proceed for the claim fund as the bank paying is
100% ready for the successful release and transfer of the $13.5million
to you there in oversea without any trouble or delay and any further
information's feel free to ask me to supply them to you for our
successful claim of the fund as you are willing to acting as the Royal
Micro-finance Investment Co late client real/true next of kin whom
deposited fund with the Royal Micro-finance Investment Co before he
died.
Due to support for the claim of the fund you will entitle offer 40%
from the total sum the remaining 60% goes to me.
The paying bank is waiting for immediate reply which to enable the
bank fill out all arrangement of the payment about the inheritance
fund get to you.
Finally if you have any question to ask before we proceed please do
kindly get back to me urgently for further
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Paul Johnson.
Royal Micro-finance Investment Co.
Operation Payment Dept Manager.
Claim your payment alert offer in your favor.
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