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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- fred.jones34@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "FRED JONES" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 06:31:25 -0800
Subject: Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB
To. Beneficiary.
Sir,
I am Special Agent FRED JONES and am here in Nigeria as an FBI delegate that has been delegated to investigate this fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction in Nigeria and other west african countries.Please be informed that during my investigation I got to find out that there is a huge sum of $10.5million that has been assigned in your name(Beneficiary ) and this fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
NOTE: You are not suppose to pay that huge amount of money from the beginning before the release of your fund can commence depending on how you want the transfer made to you.
This is to inform you that it is only through Visa Card that you fund will be released to you. It will be shipped to you through the courier service after verification and investigation.
We have to inform you that have made some arrested in respect of this delayed over due fund.
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
I shall expect your response as soon as you receive this email. Please Note do not inform any of the people that collected money from before now about this new development, to avoid jeopardizing our investigation.
On the receipt of your response i shall forward you with my fbi identification card for you to know whom you are dealing with.
Best Regard,
FRED JONES
FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION NIGERIA/WEST AFRICAN DIVISION
INVESTIGATION ON ALL ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER/CARGO DELIVERY
DIRECT MOBILE 2347045119439
Direct Email:fred.jones34@hotmail.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
