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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Phillip Walters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drphillipwalters111@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 15:39:45 -0000
Subject: Reply.
Dear Friend,
I wish to notify and remind you of our transaction awarded to you $3,600,000.00 which we could not comeplete in the past due to the fact that we could not clear the charges, That funds was held in the reserve unit now the U.S Gorvernment has declear the release of those funds, Now you are to contact the paying Bank as soon as possible.
You are to reply with the information as follows:
Full Name:....................
Your direct phone number:...............
Bank Name:.....................
Bank Address:....................
Account Name:....................
Account Number:..................
Routing Number:..................
With this I will help you write an application letter which you will view and forward to the bank for payment I have been following up this transaction for a long time my self without your support as soon as the funds get into your account we will share 45% for me and 45% for you, 10% stand out for any one of us or investor that will take part in financing all expenses in this transaction. All what I need you to do is to provide an account which we will use to receive this funds this will be added with the Application.
I await your urgent response to this message have a nice day and God Bless.
Barrister Phillip Walters.
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Anti-fraud resources:
