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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:
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Jane Abraham" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <janeabrahamm@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2017 02:24:41 -0000
Subject: 1 Inbox mail
Mrs. Jane Abraham
Plot 834 Trasacco Estate Kumassi-Ghana
Tel: +233238518374
Good day to you my dearest one.
Please I am sorry for the surprise contact with you today. After my prayers in search of a trust worthy person that can do this deal with me, I now got your contact from an online directory. I need your assistance in the transfer of $14,386,000.00 USD to your account. I am a bank manger in a prime bank in Ghana. This is a sure and true deal.(Just keep it secret between us).
Please reply quickly with your complete name, contact address and cell phone number so that I can give your contact to the paying bank as the depositor/beneficiary of this fund in Ghana . Please Call me now on +233238518374 once you send your reply . This is 100% genuine.
Yours in love
Ms. Jane Abraham .
NB: THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED IN RECEIVING IT IN YOUR ACCOUNT
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Anti-fraud resources:
