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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- victorj095@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Victor Jones Esq" <vitorjones@yahoo.dk>
Reply-To: victorj095@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 21:41:11 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: I WANT TO INVEST WITH YOU PLEASE:
REPLY TO:victorj095@gmail.com
Dear ,
Compliments of the day.Forgive my indignation if this message may come to
you as a surprise and if it might offend you without your prior consent
and writing through this medium.
I am Victor Jones Esq. I want to invest in your Country with the sum of
US$21.5M,valuable gold worth $18 million United States dollars under your
care and supervision.
I was a former REGIONAL GOVERNOR and a gold marchant in Ghana and a Prince
who needs protection for his family.
If you can handle such a huge sum for investment into a profitable with
low risk business,please get back to me as soon as possible for further
briefing on the investment plan and agreement procedure.
Kindly reply to the below email adds with your business profile to enable
me advise you accordingly,and do not forget to include your telephone
contacts for easy communication.
Thank you.
Victor Jones Esq
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Anti-fraud resources:
