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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 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Paul Rochers" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jaboh1931@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 11:07:47 -0700
Subject: Do reply with all urgency. Barrister J ABOH Esq.
Dear Sir
I am Mr. J ABOH. a legal practitioner and a personal attorney to Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua wife of dead President Musa Yar’Adua of Nigeria,
I have her instructions to find a very reliable person or group who can assist her receive a sum of US$500M i.e. United States Five Hundred
Million Dollars Only into a safe account. This is purely real and not one of the very dirty mail letter you may come in contact through the
internet,
As this requires your utmost appraisals for onward dealing.
It might interest you to know that the president have taking charge of running the leadership of the country which gave little or no hope of
safety of this said fund which is in a secret account to be made know to you as soon as we are convinced you are capable to receive the total
sum,
be informed that she has given me necessary information as to go about the processing of this business and all I need is your trust and
confidence to work with me
.
The proof of fund and change of ownership shall be endorsed in your name/favor as soon as you give me the confidence we can trust you and I
will like to read from you without wasting time to know you have agreed to work with us, you will be rewarded with 20% of the total sum as
soon as the fund is transferred to you and she will travel down for the receipt of her share and will direct you further.
Bear in mind that this transaction is 100% risk free and as an attorney I will stand by to make sure all the legitimate and authentic back up
documents are produced and furnish to back your claim as a genuine beneficiary to take over the fund until she meet with you, do know that we
shall share a copy of genuine agreement deed of bond with my company letter head to clarify both parties stakes and avoid any cheat or
betrayal as soon as fund get to you.
Do reply with all urgency.
Barrister J ABOH Esq.
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