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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:
- "30% for you " (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: Timothy McCarron <gdyearmac@att.net>
Reply-To: timmccaaron20999@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:42:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hello
Mr. Timothy McCarron
Greetings,
I feel obliged writing this mail to you. Do accept my apology if this mail does not suit your personal or business ethics considering the fact that there wasn't earlier information regarding my mail.
I am a Fund Manager with Fidelity Investment United Kingdom and I handle all our Investor's Capital Project Funds that enabled me to divert 1.2% Investors Excess Return Capital Funds to our Magellan Trust Funds Account whereby anyone can be presented to claim the funds. On this note, the total sum of GBP18M (POUNDS) has been diverted representing the 1.2% Excess Return Capital Funds from the Investor Capital Project Funds for 2005/2006.I need a reliable and trustworthy person that can work this deal out with me so that we can claim the funds as mentioned above. There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be dictated or traced. Our sharing ratio will be 60% for me, 30% for you and the remaining 10% will be kept aside for any expenditure incured in regards to this deal. If you are interested, please send your direct telephone numbers for discussion of this deal in further details. I am counting on your sense of confidentiality, as it is
my desire that you keep this business to yourself.
Anticipating hearing from you;
Best Regards,
Mr. Timothy McCarron.
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Anti-fraud resources:
