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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 us 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- waterskalu@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR WATERS KALU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <waterskalu@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 13:31:32 -0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY
Good Day,
I am Mr. Waters Kalu. I represent the interest of one of the top ministers in the cabinet of the now
defunct government in Libya. He has asked me to help him source for a reputable individual/international
businessman to engage in a business transaction involving the movement and investment of
$6.2 Million US Dollars.
This amount is available in cash and needs to be moved out ASAP. The plan is for you to be given the
authorization to become the beneficiary to these funds. The idea is for you to help invest the funds
in a lucrative business in your country. Please note that the logistics involved in moving the funds
will not implicate you or jeopardize your security at all. This project will be done discretely.
You will be given 25% of the total funds for your help in receiving and accommodating the funds.
The remaining 75% will be set aside for investments.
If this proposal interests you, please kindly respond in kind with your full details including your name,
contact address and direct telephone number. When I receive a positive response from you,
we will discuss the modality, sign a trust agreement and also discuss the logistics to move the funds to you.
You can respond back from your private email address (if you have one) so that I can give you more details
and hopefully, we can do some business together.
Regards.
Mr. Waters Kalu
Fax; +442076811599
waterskalu@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
