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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Eric kwado" <williamsunation@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: dr.erickwado@live.com
Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2012 19:46:57 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re:DEAR GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY,
Hello.
This email is not in any way an official but a personal and confidential proposal to you. My name is Dr. Eric Kwado. I am the manager of Spintex road branch of International Commercial Bank Accra Ghana, West Africa. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of US$ 3,500,000.00.
This fund is the excess of what my branch in where I am the manager made as profit last year. I have already submitted an approved for end of the Year report to the head office and they will never know of this excess amount that I have already put in an escrow deposit account anonymously.
As a manager of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this Fund I am impelled to request for your mutual assistance to apply and claim this Fund into your bank account for further investment in your country.
I intend to part 35% of this fund to you while 65% shall be for me.
There is practically no risk involved in this transaction and everything that you do to claim this fund will be under legitimate ground. The mode of transfer is practically on your instruction to the bank.
All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund. If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response.
Dr. Eric Kwado.
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Anti-fraud resources:
