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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:
- "million united state 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Thorgan Marten" <member.servicesr2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: thorganmarten19@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2020 10:14:20 +0100
Subject: Confidential Massage
Hello Dear,
I am Mr. Thorgan Martin, a Bank Officer here in U.A.E. I believe it is
the wish of God for me to come across you now. I am having an
important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe
will interest you, because it is in connection with your last name and
you are going to benefit from it.
The business deal is valued at US $30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million
United State Dollars) and I wish to execute this you, I hope that I am
talking to a mature fellow who can handle such deal. The sharing ratio
is 50/50% to both parties; my share will assist me to start my own
company which has been my dream.
Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as
TOP SECRET.
Anticipating your communication.
Mr. Thorgan Marten
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Anti-fraud resources:
