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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mrs_rosegianfraco@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "HYUNDAI GROUP" <parker@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: mrs_donaclara@yahoo.it
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:20:48 +0500
Subject: Hyundai Charity Grant
Dear Sir/Madam,
You have been selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award
sum of US$2,000,000.00(Two Million United States Dollars) as charity
donations/aid from Hyundai Group. click below for further information.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iZmiE9o-PiIb9s4nS4hsQKfo2F_A
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2007/09/17/55/0502000000AEN200
70917003500320F.HTML
contact: Head of committee: Mrs. Teoh Zabedah for payment via
email:mrs_rosegianfraco@yahoo.it
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Ji-Qui
Comittee President)
Anti-fraud resources:
