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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045745989 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: stephen john <johns2038@msn.com>
Reply-To: <stephenjohn199@live.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 08:33:15 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION
Attention,
I hope this letter meet you in good health.
I need your co-operation to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint business with you in your country in areas related to Real estate, I have a substantial capital, equivalent to £9.5m(Nine Million, Five hundred Thousand)in a security finance company here in London.
I honorably intend to invest in your country into a very lucrative business venture of which you are to advise and execute the said venture over there for our mutual benefits. Your able co-operation is to become my business partner in your country and create ideas on how the money will be invested, properly managed after the money is transferred to your care. You will take 40% for your assistance while 60% for us.
1. The said fund amounts to Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand (pounds).
2. The said fund is in cash and will be transferred to you in same state.
3. The fund will be under your investment control for three years during which only the profit will be shared annually 60% for the owner and 40% for you annually.
4. The transaction desire absolute confidentiality and professionalism in handling of this matter.
Do get back to me as soon as you can for more details. Looking forward to receiving your swift response.
Best Regards.
Mr. Stephen John.
+447045745989
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Anti-fraud resources:
