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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:
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "john.muzi@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: John Muzi <deptme.jm@gmail.com>
Reply-To: john.muzi@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2015 17:21:21 +0200
Subject: Mail from John
Good day
I am Mr. John Muzi, and I work with the South African Department of
Minerals& Energy.
I am sending you this mail based on the committee's urgent need for an
individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a money
transfer.
In unfolding this proposal, I believe you are a respected person and will
like you to handle this transaction. I have also decided to seek a
confidential co-operation with you to carry out this deal for the benefit
of both parties and hope you will keep it between us because of the nature
of this transaction.
To give you a brief idea.
Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work with the
co-operation of two other top officials, we have in our possession as
overdue payment bills that will be transferred abroad with the assistance
and co-operation of a foreign company or individual to receive the said
funds on our behalf.
More so, we are handicapped in the circumstances, as the South Africa Civil
Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence
your importance in the whole transaction.
I have the authority of my partners involved to discuss on the modalities
of sharing with you. Provided you treat it with utmost urgency and
confidentiality.
I will await your reply and fullest co-operation.
I am available on my email address below to entertain any questions
concerning the clarity of this transaction.
Regards,
John Muzi.| +27 61 885 5844| john.muzi@outlook.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
