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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:
- "million pounds" (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.
- nicholai.vander1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Nicholai Vander Elst <nicholai.vander0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: nicholai.vander2@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:35:02 +0100
Subject: Fidelity Investment proposal
Greeting From
Fidelity Investment
United Kingdom
My name is Mr Nicholai Vander Elst. I am the Lead Portfolio Manager of
Fidelity
Investment United Kingdom. I have a business investment proposal for you worth
£49,800,000 Million Pounds, which I know will be of mutual benefit to both of
us, and I believe we can handle it together once we have a common
understanding
and mutual cooperation in the execution of the modalities. I need your
assistance because there is need for a foreign partner in this
business that is
why I am contacting you.
Let me know your opinion or willingness for further comprehensive details as
regards to the source of the fund.
sunny mayor:
With a response from you confirming your interest, I'll let you know the full
details of the transaction and you can contact me through my private email
address(nicholai.vander1@gmail.com)
I wait your quick response.
Best Regards,
Mr Nicholai Vander Elst
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Anti-fraud resources:
