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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 united states 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: "Sgt Bill Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sbill4732@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 15:01:19 -0700
Subject: Please Read Carefully Then Reply
Dear Friend,
My name is (Sgt) Bill Smith, I'm an American soldier serving in the military with the Army’s 2nd Infantry division Iraq but now redeployed to Afghanistan. I have a very desperate need for assistance and have summed up courage to contact you.I’m seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of Four Million United States Dollars (US$4M) to you as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care.
SOURCE OF MONEY:
Some money in various currencies were discovered in barrels at a farm house near Saddam’s old palaces in Tikrit-Iraq during rescueoperation, and it was agreed by Staff Sgt Kenneth Buff and I that some part of this money be shared between both of us before informing anybody about it since both of us saw the money first. his does not sound right to do but I tell you what! No compensation can make up for the risk we have taken with our lives in this hell hole, of which my brother in-law was killed by a road side bomb last time. The above figure was given to me as my percentage, and to conceal this kind of money became a problem for me but with the help of a British contact working here and with his office Ace security company enjoying some immunity, I was able to get the package out to Ace security company London U.K. for safe keeping. I have now found a very secured way of getting the package to you and I will discuss more with you uppon your response when i‘m sure that you are willing to assist me and that t
May God bless you.
Sgt. Bill Gary.
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Anti-fraud resources:
