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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)
- "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: Ronald Gates <ronaldgates12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ronaldgates1@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2017 05:00:56 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend
--
Dear Friend
Reference to this transaction, I am equally grateful with the zeal of
your understanding and co-operation in this transaction and therefore
I want to use this opportunity to assure you once more that this
transaction is already a success. Now that we have enormous confidence
and trust in each other, we can successfully conclude an arrangement
with the financial consultant CRYSTAL INVESTMENT who specializes on
fund transfer and also affiliate with all Banks in Europe and any part
of the world.
Introduction of CRYSTAL INVESTMENT & Associates in this transaction
was based on the recommendation by a reputable diplomat who has work
with him before, on the type of transaction that involves cash, he did
explain his ability to transfer the fund into your account by Bank to
Bank transfer.
We have brief CRYSTAL INVESTMENT on the matter, and he has accepted to
work with us in getting this fund transferred into your account by
using his own bank contact. AND THE AMOUNT IS $10.5 MILLION DOLLARS
You are advice urgently to contact CRYSTAL INVESTMENT & Associate on
the following Contacts; when you indicate interest i shall release
the information to you for immediate contact with CONTACT PERSON:
RAYMOND JAMES
Please always keep me inform in any development or correspondent
advice with him.
Regards,
Ronald Gates
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Anti-fraud resources:
