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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:
- "million pounds" (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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- dongoodluck000@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "DON GOODLUCK." <goodluck_don@yahoo.co.nz>
Reply-To: dongoodluck@uicalumni.org
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:10:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FOR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
kindly indicate your full Interest
Friendly Greetings.
We are a Corporate Financial Service Provider in West Africa. We had a Customer who deposited (5.250 million pounds with us and eventually Died without any reference to a next of kin. In accordance with the West African Trust and Federal Laws, at the Expiration of 6 (six) years, his investments with our Financial Trust Shall revert to ownership of the government of the country of the said Investments if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the investments.
Since you share the same surname with this client, I want to present You to stand in as the next of kin so that you and I can benefit from This investment equally (i.e. 50% for you and 50% for me). I guarantee That this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect Us from any breach of the law. If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full Interest by send to me as below :E-mail: dongoodluck000@gmail.com
Full Name:......................................................
Contact Home Address:...................................
State/City:.....................................................
Zip Code:.......................................................
(NB: No Postal Address Please)
Country:.........................................................
Occupation:....................................................
Post Held:........................................................
Contact Phone Number:...................................
Gender:............................................................
Marital Status:.................................................
Age:....... Nationality:.......................................
With friendly greetings,
Mr.Don Goodluck
NB: that all reply.s should be derected to my private e-mail: dongoodluck000@gmail.com
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