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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "DANSO PHILIP.Q" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <phillip_esq1@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 22:58:40 -0000
Subject: 07/02/2015/MY OFFER
RE: PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL:
My name is Barrister Danso Phiip.Q, ESQ. I would like to present to you a Business Proposition for your consideration. I hold on Trusts the sum of $128,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Eight Million United States American Dollars) that belongs to my late client. The aforementioned funds were blocked in my Trusts Account pending when a Beneficiary will be appointed by me to claim the said funds as contained in the Trusts Agreement.
I am ready to appoint you as the Beneficiary cum Investor of the aforesaid funds herein provided you accept my offer and ready to make the business with me. Our Sharing Ratio is 50/50.I will appreciate if you will send me your telephone number for verbal discussion of this offer in full detail.
Yours Respectfully,
Danso Philip.Q, ESQ
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Anti-fraud resources:
