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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Richard Allen" <richard.alle@blumail.org>
Reply-To: richardalle@blumail.org
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2010 16:35:33 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Re: From Richard Allen
Dear Sir/madam
Attention:
I sourced your email from a human resource profile database
in the chamber, my name is Mr. Richard Allen. Account
officer to late Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahayan United Arab Emirates who
until his untimely death was the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority , a well
known Philanthropist before he died. He made a Will stating that
$70Million dollars (Seventy million USD) should be given to a citizen of
our choice overseas as one of his own donation to humanity . I have made a
random draw and your e-mail address was picked as the beneficiary to this
Will.I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank
because i have been given notice instructing me been the account officer
to late Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahayan to produce the beneficiary of
this from the beginning of this year 2010 before his death else the money
will be credited to the Government treasury as per law here at the end of
2010. It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of my client late Sheikh
Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahayan since he is no more alive.
You can check the link below details:
http://business.maktoob.com/20090000453590/Body_of_missing_UAE_royal_found_in_Morocco/Article.htm
You are required to contact me immediately to enable me
update you in details about the process of this very golden
opportunity. I urge you to mail me immediately for further
details bearing in mind that the Bank has given me a date
limit to produce the beneficiary, I await your urgent mail.
Meanwhile: I request you send the following information on
your response:
1. Your Name in Full:
2. Your Address:
3. Your Occupation:
4. Your Nationality:
5. Your City
6.Your Mobile number:
8. Your Age:
9. Your Gender:
However, feel free to ask me any question which i promise
to clarify you on any doubts.
Mr. Richard Allen
Bill and Exchange Manager
Foreign Remittance Dept
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Anti-fraud resources:
