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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Melissa Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <melisajohnson@live.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2011 06:00:16 -0400
Subject: From: Ms. Melissa Johnson
Hello,
My name is Ms. Melissa Johnson and I am the new operation manager of International Monetary and Financial Committee. Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirate. I am writing in regards of your Abandon diplomatic luggage 122 with Ref: No1226/X42/206 which was deposited in our vault for safe Keeping is due for immediate collection.
The luggage was deposited in our vault on your name and email address as unclaimed winning lottery fund of $8.5 million dollars by an official of a diplomatic Courier company accompany by a bank official and two lottery gentlemen from the Lottery Company.
Be inform that if you need this funds to get to your doorstep through diplomatic means, let me know so I will hand over the luggage to our security company here in Dubai, PanalPina world Transport Ltd. They will assign one of their agents to flight to London to your country. Also note that if you need this fund to be deposited in a bank then the bank will transfer into your account let me know also if you need an ATM card wish you can use in any location.
I wait your urgent reposes.
Best Regards,
From: Ms. Melissa Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
