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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:
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Johnson Lian-Yung <aliconsultantcy112@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jliayung@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:44:13 +0000
Subject: Re:ARA Opportunity For You
Hello
We are a reputable big size company in China and we are commencing
making an in-road / rapid expansion into the North America continent
whereby we are already in the process of setting up offices in the
United States and Canada. Before the ongoing process is completed, we
would like to use your services as our Account Receivable Agent (ARA)
in North America. Your primary responsibility will be for collection
of all our account receivables on our behalf from our customers in USA
and Canada. Although my secretary has reviewed your profile and we
understand this may not be your area of expertise but I know that your
eligibility to help our company fulfils its major goal is not in
doubt. That is why I have resolved to reach out to you.
You are offered a 5% commission on all receivables taken in on our
behalf plus $4,500 monthly salary payment excluding the 5% commission.
You are to make direct contact with me as the senior international
business consultant/recruiter to the Chinese Company.
Very sincerely
Johnson Lian-Yung
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Anti-fraud resources:
