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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Zeb Johnson <henia.geras@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: zebjohnson2@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2010 09:00:03 -0700
Subject: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
Dear
I work with Trustnet A Financial Express Company in UK and I handle all our Investor's Capital Project Funds that enables 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 GBP10 M (POUNDS) has been diverted representing the 1.2% Excess Return Capital Funds from the Investor Capital Project Funds for 2006/2007. 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 is 70% for me while the remaining 30% will go to you and my own 70% I will invest in your company for a period of 5 years. I am counting on your sense of confidentiality, as it is my desire that you keep this business to yourself.
Anticipating to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Zeb Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
