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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "chambers" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Helen Johnson <helen.johnson36@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2016 17:51:30 -0800
Subject: Urgent Business Relationship
*Request For Urgent Business Relationship*
I have the pleasure to make this surprising but mutually benefiting
business proposal. I am a member of the newly inaugurated committee and I
got your address through South Africa Chambers of Commerce.
My committee has the mandate (task) of compiling the names of companies for
payment of all contracts that have been fully executed. With our position
in the committee, we have successfully secured for ourselves, the sum of US
$16,000,000 (Sixteen million United States Dollars). This sum was acquired
by carefully inflating the amount of contracts executed and we need a
reliable company to be included in the list of companies to be paid. This
company will be paid for a contract executed.
Till I hear from you soonest with your contact telephone numbers for
further details.
Regards.
Mrs.Helen
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Anti-fraud resources:
