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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:
- "dear friend" (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)
- "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)
- "keep it confidential" (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.
- 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.
- mrsamandauk@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Amanda <mr.anderson078@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsamandauk@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:16:26 +0700
Subject: My Dear Friend
My Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Astina Iwamony senior staff with Bank Central Asia (BCA) here in
Jakarta Indonesia. I want to let you know that the project is all about the
transfer of the sum of $5.4 Million US Dollars only ($5,400,000.00) which
belongs to the late son of Libyan leader Mr. Mutassim Gaddafi, who was
killed by the rebel forces On 20th October 2011 along side with his father.
Since after his death non member of his family have come forth for the
claim of this fund and this is why I am contacting you so that you can act
as his business partner and I will guide you on what to do for this fund to
be approved and transferred to your own bank account in your country after
which we will share it 50% each party.
Please do let me know if you are ready and willing to to assist me in this
important project , and ensure you keep it confidential because of my
position with the bank. I will like to know your interest and willingness
to assist me by reverting back to me. Please let continue our conversation
through my private email box. Here is my email address, (
mrsamandauk@gmail.com ) I will introduce myself better and give you more
details.
Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
Mrs. Astina Iwamony.
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Anti-fraud resources:
