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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- 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.
- jjohngarang@pnetmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- johngarangjr@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jjohngarang@pnetmail.co.za>
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 11:05:21 +0200
Subject: Good Day
Attn Sir/Madam,
Greetings.
The source through which I got your contact gave me the confidence to reach you. I am the son of late J. John.M.Garang who was until his death the vice president of Sudan in Africa.
In brief, my late father was a strong opposition for over 20yrs until he was appointed the vice president on the 9th of July 2005 by the United Nations Peace Team as an avenue to quench the 20yrs civil war in Sudan. He died on the 31st of July 2005 following a helicopter crash alongside with 12 others just 22days after his appointment as the vice president.
What led to the helicopter crash is still unclear but I know that my father was the target. I have a problem I believe you will be of great assistance I have a consignment which my late FATHER deposited with a security company in South Africa which contain (Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred thousand United States Dollars) although He registered it as family valuable and please it has to be secret because you and me knows the secret now I want you to assist me to retrieve the consignment from the security company for a very big joint investment I want to hand everything over to you as you know my condition right now I am under house arrest.
Please kindly permit me to have your direct full contacts address telephone / fax numbers to enable me contact for better explanations.
Remain blessed.
Garang Family
Khartoum Sudan.
Contact Email address: jjohngarang@pnetmail.co.za
johngarangjr@googlemail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
