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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- davywilliam3@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Williams" <fsc@zjwst.gov.cn>
Reply-To: <davywilliam3@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 19:48:30 +0800
Subject: Greetings From David Williams
Greetings From David Williams
Dear Friend,
For your kind attention. I will be very glad if you do assist me to relocate
this sum of ( US$26) to your account for the benefit of our both families.
This is a genuine business,only i cannot operate it alone without using a
Foreigner who will stand as a beneficiary to the money, that is why i decided
to contact you in a good manner to assist me and also to share the benefit
together with me.
By indicating your interest I will send you the full details on how the
business will be executed.
Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this
interests you, I want to remind you of the confidentiality of this Transaction
at hand whatever your decision is.
I await your urgent response,and fill those question below to enable us proceed
this business onward.
Your Full Name...
Your Sex....
Your Age.....
Your Country.....
Marital Status.....
Your Occupation....
Your Personal Mobile Number......
Your Personal Fax Number........
Your id card or passport for more trust.....
Your account informations where my money will be transfered to ......
Please keep this proposal as a top secret and delete if you are not interested.
Rely me at (davywilliam3@yahoo.com)
Regards,
David Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
