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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:
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mariene Gilbert <marienegilbert@mail.bg>
Reply-To: Mariene Gilbert <mariene_gilbert@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2015 03:43:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Miss Mariene Gilbert,
From Miss
Mariene Gilbert,
It is my pleasure to contact you because of my situation here in my country and
how I can relocate to your country and continue with my studies and invest my
inheritance for my future.
Though I have not met with you before but I believe, one has to risk confiding
in someone to succeed sometimes in life. I pray that you will not disappoint me
at last.
There is this amount of five million five hundred thousand U.S dollars($5.500,000.00)
which my late father deposited for me and my mum but unfortunately my mother
died last nine months ago and things has never been the same again for me.
The fund is
deposited in one of the commercial banks here and all the legal documents are
intact here with me.
Now I have decided to invest this money anywhere safe enough outside our
Country for my study and future. I want you to transfer and invest this fund in
any lucrative business were tax will not take much tools.
If you can be of an assistance to me I will be pleased to offer to you 10% of
the total fund while you manage the investment for me and help me secure
admission in one of the best universities in your country with your influence.
I await your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Miss Mariene Gilbert.
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Anti-fraud resources:
