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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (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.
- +447031749470 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- mandelanelson60@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mandela Nelson <mandalanelson101@verizon.net>
Reply-To: mandelanelson@live.com
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 02:21:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:
Dear Good Friend.
I am Mr Mandela Nelson,Jr.a South Africa Citizen and I am contacting you with divine confidence for your assistance in investing in your country.I'm interested in the Manufacturing,Importation/Exportation of Rod/pipe fittings or in construction as the case may be,but if there is any investment plans that you think will be rather profitable,please don't hesitate to let me know.
For your assistance to my proposal I will be offering you 25% of the fund which will be invested in your country.
I am in UK/LONDON for now and shall be waiting to hear from you.Please Do forward me your direct contact number for further telephone conversations and for better understanding.
I can be reached on my personal email address: (Mandelanelson60@yahoo.com) and you can contact me in my mobile number in London for more discussion: +44-70 31749470.
I will be waiting for your urgent response.
Best Regards,
Mr Mandela Nelson,Jr.
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Anti-fraud resources:
