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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:
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transferred into your bank account" (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: "Eng. Kenneth Marcon" <kenetmarcon@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kenetmarco@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2017 22:21:17 +0100
Subject: DEAR SIR ASAP
*Dear Sir , *
*With due regard and respect I write to you this message. Please I don't
know if you received the message I sent to you before because I have been
waiting your reply. You were recommended to me by Mr. Abbas because of your
credibility and trustworthy in transaction like this one. Without much talk
I am Eng. Kenneth Marcon a sales director in our Petroleum Corporation.*
*We struck deal with foreign companies by over invoicing receipt and made
so much money Eur 25 Million in it. Right now I want you to receive this
money in your account as the beneficiary of the fund and we will like to
invest the money under your care and control. I want to let you know that
we have been searching for true and honest partner who will receive keep
and not seize or run away with the money when it is transferred into your
bank account hence I contacted you for your assistance so prove yourself
well. *
*In view of this be informed that this money Eur 25M (Twenty Five Million
Euros) is in a reserved account of a bank in London which I will give you
the details latter. However my dear this transaction is between **myself, 2
of my colleagues and **yourself alone and let **it remain secret
between us**,so
get back me asap and lets get on to business immediately.*
*Another good news that the depositor of the money have paid all the
charges in the cost of transfer so you will not paid charges again. So am
waiting for your reply today.*
*Thanks and best regards*
*Eng. Kenneth Marcon*
*AS SOON AS POSSIBLE*
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Anti-fraud resources:
