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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Carlton Broderick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carlton_broderick@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:49:24 -0400
Subject: Good Day...admin PFZQRSXEEN
Good Day,
I am Carlton Broderick of the First National securities & Finn. London. I
seek your assistance in clearing a Treasure Box containing a sum of Seven
Million, Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (37.8MUSD) which has
been dormant in our vaults in the last four years.
The said box was deposited by a foreign customer who has lost contact with
us. Going by the usual statutory rules governing our operation, the box
shall be handed over to the relevant government authorities as an
unclaimed deposit within the next two months, if nobody comes to claim it.
This is my reason for contacting you to partner with me in getting this
money out of here for our mutual benefit. Details shall be made available
to you as soon as I hear from you. Thanks & God Bless!
Regards,
Carlton Broderick.
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Anti-fraud resources:
