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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 united states 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "rowland.sibaya52@hotmail.co.za" (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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <l.20102010@live.co.za>
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 09:02:12 +0200
Subject: From: Rowland Sibaya ( Very Urgent)
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
SANDTON TOWERS, JOHANNESBURG PMB. 12701
SOUTH AFRICA.
Email: (rowland.sibaya52@hotmail.co.za)
Dear Friend,
I am Mr. Rowland Sibaya, a member of the contract award committee working with the Department of Minerals and Natural Resources in South Africa. I am in search of an agent or group of company to assist us in the transfer of Thirty Two Million United States Dollars Only. (USD$32M) for subsequent investment in properties in your country. You will be required to.
(1) Assist in the transfer of the said funds.
(2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment.
If you decide to render your service to us in this regard, 25% of the total sum of USD$32M will be for you. Please I want you to understand that this transaction is a deal and as such should be treated very confidential and well handled with topmost secrecy.
Thanks and God bless you, as I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Yours Faithfully,
Rowland Sibaya.
Tel: 0027 7878 23299
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Anti-fraud resources:
