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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:
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.wright Robert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertwright@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:53:23 -0700
Subject: Mr Robert Wright
INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Whitehall Commons
1612 Bull Street
Avd SA 133, 28001 JHB
South Africa.
Direct Telephone:+27 797 845 682
Complement
My name is Mr. Robert Wright; I am the director of operation Integrated Financial Management Services here in South Africa. With due respects and regards; I am contacting you to join in this business deal. I got your contact from international brochure and decided to contact you for this simple business deal of mutual benefits to both parties.
I wish to seek your urgent assistance to transfer from our affiliate bank, a large amount of money. This money has been trapped in the Bank's SUSPENSE ACCOUNT for seven years.
This money was deposited in a Non residential close corporations (CC) domiciliary account by an investor for the purpose of transacting a Mining business. For the past Seven years, the account has been Dormant.
I am contacting you to represents as a Director of the company or the next of kin. I have all the details of Account/Company. We only need to resuscitate the Account.
It is without any risk as all loop holes has been taken care of as we structured this fund by my firm into the our affiliate bank 8years ago, and all necessary information as regards to this fund has been secured by me and my contact men inside the bank.
I will want to hear from you along with your name; telephone number so that I can discuss modalities/details with you.
Regards,
Mr Robert Wright
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Anti-fraud resources:
