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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:
- "million united states 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)
- ",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)
- 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.
- contractorvoller@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Marc Voller <princessdianafoundation@gmail.com>
Reply-To: contractorvoller@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2015 09:22:22 +0100
Subject: YOU HAVE 1 NEW MESSAGE PLEASE READ
Good day Esteemed Friend,
I am Lieutenant-General Marc Voller of the US Army currently in
Afghanistan for peace keeping, I found your contact details via corporate
search, am actually seeking your assistance to invest the sum of
$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars) in your country.
The said funds has been safely deposited into an London Bank, so on
receipt of your urgent response and prior mutual agreement the said funds
will be transferred to you as long as I am assured that it will be safe in
your care until I complete my service here in Afghanistan.
This is not stolen fund and there are no risks involved. I count on your
understanding and honesty.
please get back to me via my personal email: contractorvoller@gmail.com
only if you can handle this.
Your urgent response will facilitate this process.
Best Regards.
Lieutenant General Marc Voller
Kabul/Afghanistan
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Anti-fraud resources:
