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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "msdellna@asia-mail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: MRS.E DELLNA <www_webbdg1@msn.com>
Reply-To: <msdellna@asia-Mail.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:53:21 +0000
Subject: RE: CAN YOU BE TRUSTED?
RE: CAN YOU BE TRUSTED?
Dear Sir/Madam,
Please I need your consent to transfer the total sum of $14.5 Million Dollars in "YOUR NAME" in Unclaim Deposit in Europe since 2010. Please with ''Mutual Trust'' i want you to immediately secure the funds first.The Principal will be shared on a 50/50 basis.
Needless to say, UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital importance if we are to successfully reap the immense benefits of this transaction.
I await your swift respons to my email if you are interested please do contact me on my private for more details.E-mail.( msdellna@asia-Mail.com )
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Elizabeth Dellna.
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Anti-fraud resources:
