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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 british pounds" (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: Arthur Maxwell <arthur.maxwell76@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: amaxwell@blumail.org
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:42:56 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: RE
Hello Dear,
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us. One of our accounts with holding balance of Twenty Five Million British Pounds Sterling (25m) has been dormant and has not been operated for the past 10 years.
>From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account a foreigner is dead and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.
I have secretly discussed this matter with a staff of the bank and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. I only have to approve you as the next of kin/will be the beneficiary and the fund will be paid to you as the beneficiary. We are to share this money between ourselves and also donate 10% to charity if you are really interested in this offer you should contact me with your personal information's.
Regards,
Arthur Maxwell
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Anti-fraud resources:
