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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)
- "million united states 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)
- "michaelelliot1010@yahoo.pt" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "michaelelliot1010@yahoo.pt" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Luke Sanfo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelelliot1010@yahoo.pt>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2015 12:01:20 -0800
Subject: Happy Christmas To You Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
I am very happy to write you today to let you know that i have succeeded in transfering the fund
$15M (Fifteen million United States Dollars) over seas with the help of a new partner from United
Kingdom London and i have decided to compensate you for your effort to assist me in the past
although we did not succeed then.
Now contact my secretary Mr. Michael Elliot Email: (michaelelliot1010@yahoo.pt) Phone: +229-68160392
For your US$850,000 been your compensation fund i gave him instruction on your behalf as soon as you
have been able to contact him.
He will let you know the proceedure on how you can get the Compensation fund i am presently in
London now for an investment project and will not be back till next year january 2016 so contact him
as soon as you receive my email.
Contact person: Mr. Michael Elliot
Email: michaelelliot1010@yahoo.pt
+229-68160392
Regards.
Mr. Luke Sanfo
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Anti-fraud resources:
