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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Joseph Cheng" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <joseph_cheng0101@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:13:07 +0300
Subject: CONFIRM THESE INFORMATION
Attn: Client ,
I certain Mr. Hassan Ali sent me an email yesterday, stating that you instructed him to cliam the sum of US$3.6million that was deposited by my late client on your behalf.
I have sent you an email concerning this fund in the past but no reply from you. Not until i received the messege from Mr. Hassan.
Please i need you to reconfirm these information before i proceed with him. For the Bank that this fund is deposited has issued an order, stating that i should bring forward the beneficiary of this fund, otherwise they will get it confiscated.
Please send me the following information, so that i will know that i am dealing with the right person.
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS
3. TELEPHONE NUMBER
I hope to hear from you soonest.
Joseph Cheng Esq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
