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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "KSC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ksulter.private@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 May 2015 13:57:32 +0200
Subject: R.E: Partnership request
Compliments of the day to you and your family.
I am an officer attached to the United Nations troops in Syria, fighting in the war against terrorism. Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for the withdrawal of troops from Syria, I have been deployed to a Syrian military base and will soon complete my assignment and be free to return home.
During one of our missions we discovered several boxes of cash and gold nuggets in a bunker and these boxes have been moved out of Syria with the assistance of some United Nations diplomatic corps officials and has been deposited with a security company for safekeeping. My position as an officer prohibits my direct involvement in claiming the deposit from the security company which has made it necessary for me to seek for a partner to assist me with the claim. All the necessary documentation will he handled by a lawyer who is affiliated to the security company and whom I have discussed with.
This process will be based on mutual trust and cooperation to ensure a success and I would like to assure you that all necessary modalities have been worked out and all that is required at this point is your readiness to partner with me for the purpose of securing
the funds for investment purposes. If you are willing to partner with me, please respond to this message confirming your readiness to assist me in this process and also include your direct telephone number so that I can call you and discuss further details.
Thank you for your time.
Yours faithfully,
Klaus Sulter
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Anti-fraud resources:
