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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you will be given 30%" (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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- wyasare@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: William Asare <asarewl@gmail.com>
Reply-To: asarew100@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2015 10:58:59 +0000
Subject: Greetings
>From the Desk of Mr. Williams. 29-01-2015
Bank Manager, Ghana.
Email: wyasare@yahoo.com
Greetings My Dear,
I have interest of investing in your country as well as seek your services
in a private and confidential matter. I am a senior Auditor heading
computing department here in our bank.
On my routine inspection I discovered a dormant account that does not
belong to anybody with a Balance of($10.850 Million USD}.I write to seek
your indulgence and assistance in transferring this fund to your country
through legal means.
I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your
choice in your country for investment. At the conclusion of this
transaction, you will be given 30% of the total amount, 70% will be for me
and for Investment in your country.
Your immediate and urgent reply is highly needed.
Best regards,
Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
