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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sarah Nguma <nguma_sarah@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: sarahh.nsarah@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:53:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello Dear Friend
Hello Dear Friend,
I know that this letter might come as a surprise to you but do consider it as an emergency. I am Miss Sarah Nguma from Harare,Zimbabwe.I presently residential here in Dakar Senegal due to the political unrest in our country.I do not know the extent you are familiar with events and fragile political situation in my country Zimbabwe,but it has formed consistent headlines in the CNN,BBC news bulletins.I will be very glad if you will accept to lead me to the right channel by means of your assistance to transfer and invest my funds in a safer political economy.i i presently here in Dakar Senegal because of the fund which is eight million,three hundred thousand united states dollars($8.3 million).
This fund was deposited by my late father in a finance house here in Senegal and i want to transfer it from here to your country for investment.Please i i earnestly anticipating your kind assistance and i do hope to hear back from you soon for further clarifications.
Thanks and God bless.
Sarah Nguma
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Anti-fraud resources:
