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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Daniel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <daniel225@videobank.it>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:15:06 -0700
Subject: RE: INVESTMENT BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL.
Attn:
RE: INVESTMENT BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL.
I am quite Sure that this mail will come to you by surprise. I am a banker.I work in the credit and accounts
Department as the Head of Investment Banking and Treasury. I represent a private investor. This is an
investment/partnership business proposal which I believe, will be of mutual benefit to both of us.
I need your co-operation to transfer the sum 66,000,000:00 GBP (Sixty Six Million Great British Pounds Sterlings)
out of the United Kingdom to your safe account for immediate investment on any viable business / project that
will be capable of generating a minimium of 10% AROI. I am confident that you will give your consideration to this
proposal and respond positively within a short period of time. I am available to discuss this proposal with you and to answer any questions you may have in regard to this fund.
As soon as you give your positive response to this proposal, I will not hesitate in sending you the details information
of this business.This transaction is 100% RISK FREE.
I look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you.
Sincerely,
Daniel
Investment Banking Dept,
Natwest Bank Plc.
Liverpool - UK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
