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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)
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "shilohfavour@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "David Abbey" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shilohfavour@w.cn>
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 21:11:05 +0100
Subject: PLEASE CONTACT MY BANK ACCOUNT OFFICER FOR YOUR $2 MILLION
Dear Friend,
Hope this mail find you in an excellent condition of health.I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from India. Presently I'm in India for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how.Now contact my Bank Account Officer in Nigeria.
His contact information is here below:
Name:Mr.Joe Chinedu
Email: shilohfavour@w.cn
Tel:+234 7090908676.
I have instructed him to send you the total sum of $2,000,000 which I kept for you as your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.I appreciated all your efforts to assist me at that time.So feel free to get in touch with Mr.Joe Chinedu ( my Bank Account Officer in Nigeria )and let her know how he can move the money ( $2 Million dollars ) to you.
Please do let me know immediately you receive $2 Million dollars so that we can share the joy together after all the sufferings we both went through that time. I'm very busy here because of the investment projects i am having with my new partner.
Finally, remember that I have instructed my Bank Account Officer in Nigeria on your behalf to send these money to you.He will send the $2 Million dollars to you without any delay.
Best regards,
Mr.David Abbey.
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