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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)
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "cptlbrown@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Captain L. Brown" <b-------bog2@att.net>
Reply-To: cptlbrown@live.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:00:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT HELP PLEASE
Dear Friend,
My name is Lewis Brown, a Captain in the U.S Army, now on a tour of duty in Northern Iraq. During one of our duty assignment, we stumbled on an Al-qaida dump site where was stacked many arms and also cash dollars to the amount of over $50 Million. We only declared the arms and kept quiet concerning the money. The money was shared among us and I being the Platoon commander got $10.7 Million. I was able to move this money out of Iraq to London UK through a Non Governmental Organization.
Presently the money is lodged with a security company. My tour is not finished so I am seeking a trust worthy person who will receive money in the U.S. or any other part of the world on my behalf and hold it on trust for me and invest part of it till I come back. You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum for your participation. Also, I have arrangements for this money to be delivered to your doorstep if you do not want to go to London. Please visit this news bar so that you can understand the origin of this transaction: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm Please respond through my regular email ID: cptlbrown@live.com so as to forward to you further information.
Yours Respectfully,
Capt: Lewis Brown.
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Anti-fraud resources:
