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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Hermann Quattara <q.hermann@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Hermann Quattara <hermannquattara@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2016 20:12:42 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
I am Faye HERMAN Qattara working with TULLOW OIL COMPANY plc here in ACAJOU South prospect, Approximate 27km off the coast of IVORY COAST West Africa.
I'm writing to you regarding a request of transferring the sum of ($17.5million) into your company or private bank account.
KINDLY NOTE: That this transaction is a DEAL that I and two of my colleagues in my department here want to make, including you as the fourth person and I hope you will be capable enough to handle it very carefully and confidentially.
We want to present you or your company as one of the foreign contractors who executed a project of installations and lying of oil pipe lines for our company worth this amount of ($17.5m) and have completed the project years ago.
We shall prepare the documents on your name or your company's name here and secure the payment approvals of this amount in you or your company's favor then transfer this money into the account that you may provide to us.
If you are interested to co-operate with us then get back to us fast so you will be advised on how we can proceed immediately.
Waiting to hear from you fast.
Best regards
Engr.F. HERMAN Qattara.
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Anti-fraud resources:
