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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "JERRY CHARLES" <jerrycharlesweb@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: jerrycharweb@cantv.net
Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2010 07:24:29 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: I'm Comfiding in You
I'm confiding in you.
Compliments of the day, I'm Jerry Charles. I know that this email will
come to you as a surprise but be rest assured that it is intended for the
mutual benefit of both of us. I was Personal aide to the deposed president
of Liberia (Mr. Charles Taylor) As a result of pressure from the
International Community during his days in office I had to flee the
country for my safety, where I am currently laying low seeking political
asylum here in Europe. Before the fall of his Government he directed me to
lodge some funds in a Private Firm. To retrieve the deposit to avoid
confiscating the deposit by the Government
I want you to front you as my business associate and trustee to the funds
(US$3,5M) so that ownership title can be change in your name for easy
transfer of this fund, hence my political asylum statue will not allow me
handle a transaction such as this. After transferring the funds you will
have 30% of the total amount while you will invest my balance of 70% in
any lucrative business pending when I'm able to normalize my political
asylum here and have free movement I can come over and meet with you.
Though we have never met, but I have to blindly trust and believe you will
not sell me out. Please if you are interested email me the following
details below;
1. Your Full Name
2. Postal address
3. Occupation
4. Telephone and Fax numbers
These information will enable me formally introduce you to the management
of the company as a business associate to whom the deposit will be
released to with relevant information related to the Deposit which I shall
give to you. Wait your response for further discussion and how to proceed
Regards
Jerry Charles
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Anti-fraud resources:
