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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 united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Chuck Rubin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <losangelesfederalcreditunionnus@live.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2012 12:25:51 -0600
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS DUE FOR RELEASE PLEASE, OPEN ATTACHMENT
We the Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (LAFCU) use this media to let you know that your inheritance/contract fund payment of $10 Million United State Dollars is here in Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (LAFCU) to be transfer to you right away, after we receive an instruction from America Government to be release your fund payment without any delay to avoid you be scam which the America Government don’t want you to be scam again by Nigeria People rather they want you to receive your fund payment here in Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (LAFCU) as soon as possible to enable you be free from scam.
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Anti-fraud resources:
