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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)
- 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.
- russbrt@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "OLUSEGUN ADENIYI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <russbrrt@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:20:42 +0100
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR INTEREST.
Dear Friend,
I am happy that I am able to send this email to you. This should be the beginning of great things to happen in both our lives. I work at the Presidential Villa and was involved in helping Madam (president's wife) move some funds abroad during the time our President was hospitalized in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (the total of which I cannot disclose now). See link for more details http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003276512121.
However, I require a partner like you to help secure these funds abroad as our Government is trying to repatriate these funds back to my country. The Government itself is not sincere in doing this as they are only concerned in enriching themselves. As you are aware all our past leaders have been exploiting the people of my country ( oil rich nation) and if this money gets into their hands it will be used for themselves, families and cronies.
Regarding this matter I will not want to reveal much at this stage until I get your response that you are ready to change our lives.Please,send your response to russbrt@sify.com
Until I hear from you.
I remain,
Mr.Olusegun Adeniyi
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Anti-fraud resources:
