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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "god fearing " (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Jeff Techs" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <financialass1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:14:15 -0500
Subject: IN SUPPORT TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE / LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HAVE TRUST IN YOU
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to offer help since I am in the position to do so. Like you know there are so many people on the Internet who are waiting to rip other people. I have helped a lot recently and they end up being liars. I would put you to test and see how sincere you are and your righteousness towards humanitarian activities.
I would instruct my Financial Donors to make a payment on my behalf to you in as much as you are sincere and God fearing which would be in the form of bank transfer into your account. A certain amount will be transfer to you via wire transfer and 5-10% would be your reward for hard work and other accounted expenses, the balance which you will wire to any UN Hunger Solution Country (The Hunger Project works for a sustainable end to hunger & poverty) The Hunger Project : Africa - South Asia - Latin America.
If instructions is properly followed, I would introduce you to anonymous private investors who are willing to assist with $50,000 to $250,000 in contribution to movement against hunger. First I need to confirm your legitimacy, and a proper investigation shall be carried out to ascertain your legitimacy. Kindly provide information below:
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
PHONE NUMBER:
AGE:
SEX:
OCCUPATION:
NAME OF YOUR BANK:
Your response is swiftly needed so as to instruct you on the Next step.
NOTE: THE MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERED INTO ANY OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
Thanks for your understanding.
Tammy Lady Mills.
God bless You.
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