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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Musa Ibrahim <snowbetterz@gmail.com>
Reply-To: musaibrahim1268@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:06:27 +0200
Subject: Your urgent reply needed.
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Dear Friend ,
Your urgent reply needed.
11/4/2018.
I know that you will be surprise to hear from me since we don't know
each other before, but it was due to the urgency of this transaction
made me to contact you through email please accept my apology.
My name is Mr.Ibrahim Musa, a banker by profession with the position of
Accounts / Audit Manager in (UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA - UBA) With due
respect, I need your urgent assistance in transferring this sum of
(US$ 15.3 million dollars) to a foreign account before my retirement
end of APRIL 2018. Please would you be interested to assist me with
any account to received this fund?.
I look forward to receive your return mail for more details about
this fund and how to execute the transfer to your account and you will
have 40 % as your share. With my position i assure you that this
transaction will be perfectly completed within 7 working days. Send me
your information as follows.
1. Name in full:.................
2. Nationality:..................
3. Age:..........................
4. Occupation:...................
5. Your cell N0:.................
Thanks and have a great day.
Mr Ibrahim Musa
Accounts / Audit Manager
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Anti-fraud resources:
