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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 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: mackdavismathins <opqq@att.net>
Reply-To: mackdavismathins@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:03:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I WILL APPRICIATE HEARING FROM YOU URGENTLY
SIR/MADAM
MY NAME IS SHAMORINE SHANGOGO
I AM FROM REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND I WORK AS A SALLIOR WITH HAMBURG SHIPPING COMPANY I AM CONTACTING YOU FOR A HELP TO TRANSFER 16.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT THIS SAID FUND IS A CONTRACT AWARDED TO MY LATE FATHER MR SHANGOGO BY NIGERIA GOVERNMENT TO SUPPY FOOD DURING NIGERIA CIVIL WAR AFTER THE WAR HAS ENDED ANOTHER GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER SINCE THEN MY FATHER AFTER A LONG SUFFERING ON HOW TO RECIVE HIS FUND BEFORE HIS DEATH. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO MET A TOP NIGERIA GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN DUBIA AS I IHELP HIM OUT OF THE PROBLEM HE HAS WITH OUR SHIP CAPTIN NOT KNOWING THE MAN IS A GOOD FRIEND TO THE PRESENT PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA WHO ASSURED ME TO COME DAWN TO NIGERIA TO PICK A BARRISTER WHO WILL SWEAR AFFIVIDAT CLIAM ON MY BEHALF IN NIGERIA BEFORE THE FUND WILL BE PAID I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU AS I WILL SOON TRAVEL TO NIGERIA FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE FUND AFTER MANY YEARS OF MY LATE FATHER PLEASE INDICATE YOUR INTREST TO ASSIST ME WITH
YOUR INFORMATIONS TO ENABLE ME TRANSFER THE FUND TO YOUR BANKING DETAIL FOR MY INVESTMENT PLAN IN ANY ORIENTED COMPANY IN YOUR COUNTRY I WILL OFFER YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM.
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Anti-fraud resources:
