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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)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- 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.
- david_jamess19@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: David James <peter.peter878@btopenworld.com>
Reply-To: david_jamess19@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:35:57 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear Friend
Attn: Dear Friend,   I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise, please accept the content in good faith. I do not intend to cause any harm of sort to you and your family. The reason for sending this mail is very fundamental and confidential to the doctrine of human privileges and right.  I am a Sudanese national but presently on political exile here in South Africa. l have a funds that I will like to invest with a private investment trust company with your assistance.  I am willing to offer you 20% of the total fund if you can assist me transfer this funds to your country due to my present situation which I will reveal to you in my subsequent email correspondents. I wish to place my funds in a stable economy.  My interest is in companies with potential for rapid growth and long term investment like Real-estate Manufacturing e.t.c, if your country’s bi-laws allows foreign investment You can contact me via my e-mail address
david_jamess19@yahoo.com.hk for more details with your reference.  Yours faithfully,  David James N: B The fund is free from drug and laundering related offences and this transaction need utmost confidentiality Â
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Anti-fraud resources:
