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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:
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Dale Travis
Reply-To: <daletravis012@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2015 01:02:38 +0100
Subject: RE:
I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried. But I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
My names are Dale Travis, United Nation peace-keeping military officer assigned to South Sudan. Three (3) weeks ago, on one of our normal assignment, I discovered a vault in a secret place near a remote area in the country. In that vault I discovered a package containing Fifty Million Five Hundred United State Dollars ($50.5m)
It became even more interestingly to realize the package has been abandoned for a long time with no trace of it after all. In my capacity as the head of the troop I was able to move the package through a Red Cross official to a Finance and Security Firm in oversea which I will reveal to you as soon as you indicate your interest in claiming this package in your name.
I strongly need you to make claim of the funds as I shall front you as the beneficiary of the said package. All necessary information you need to make the claim is with me. I am of sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards and your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.
Please permit me to ask these few questions:-
1. Can you honestly Help Me?
2. Can I completely 'TRUST' You?
Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Note that the only means of our communication shall be via e-mail.
Thanks and God bless.
Dale Travis.
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Anti-fraud resources:
