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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: micheal smith <smithmicheal493@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2015 19:13:45 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Stanley Joseph a banker.I got your contact from yahoo business
search i hope that you will not expose or betray this trust and
confident that am about to repose in you for the benefit of our both
families.i am in need of your help as a foreigner to transfer the sum of
$ 35 million US dollars (thirthy five million US dollars) into your
account risk is completely% 100 free.
Please I will like you to keep this proposal as a top secret or delete
it from your mail box, if you are not interested. also note that you
will have 40% of the above mentioned sum, if you agree to transact
this business with me, while 60% will be for me.I will give you full
details of this transaction immediately you notify me your interest by
sending your data.
Your Full Name:
Your Country:
Your Age:
Your Occupation:
Phone Number:
Office Address:
Regards
Smith Micheal.
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Anti-fraud resources:
