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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- austinosal41@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: missroseakam@post.ro
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:32:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY FOR YOUR COMPENSATION?
I have a new email address!You can now email me at: austinosal41@yahoo.ca
- DearFriend,Please accept my apology for not contacting you earlier before now due to my tight schedules.I did not forgot your past effort and attemps to assist me, now I'm happy to inform you that i have suceeded in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Japan.Meanwhile,I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in that process despite that it failed us at that time, due to no trust, and lack of finance.Now, I want you to contact my secretary,her name is Miss.Rose Akam and her email address is (missroseakam@post.ro) Arrange with her on how the total sum of($1,000,000.00usd) ONE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS will reach you safely which i have already kept for your compensation inform of INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT, for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.I appreciated your efforts at that time very much.Please send the below information to him to enable him getback to you immediately.1,Yo!
ur Full Name..........2,Delivery address..... 3,phone number.....4,email address.....REGARDS From,Barrister Austin Osal
Anti-fraud resources:
