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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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Tbek Tbek <gilkel4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tbek_tbek@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 12:37:51 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT/BUSINESS PROPOSAL
--
Hello,
Please permit me to use this media to introduce myself. I am an investment
consultant based in western part of Africa. I have been privileged to
consult for multi million dollars investments for some top government
officials here in Africa.
At the moment, i have the mandate of one of my clients to sort for viable
investments opportunities in your country and it is in this regard i am
contacting you. He has $21 Million Dollars to invest but the biggest
problem we have is moving the fund out of our country and to have a honest
person to receive it on our behalf.
If you can be honest enough to receive the $21 Million you will have 10% of
the fund.
Should this be of interest to you knowing you stand to benefit from this
project then get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Tuoyo Bekederemo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
