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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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <adaniel7011@acninc.net>
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:51:12 -0700
Subject: Re: Personal
Hello:
With a very desperate need for assistance,I have summoned up courage to contact you since i am presently in Iraq with the Charlie Company. and found your contact particulars in an Address journal.I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $5,000000.00( Five million US dollars)to you as long as i am assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my service here in Iraq.This is not a stolen money and there are no dangers involved.I await your response.please get back to me by clicking reply.
SOURCE OF MONEY:
Some money in various currencies was discovered concealed in barrels with piles of weapons and ammunitions at a location near one of Saddam's old palaces during a rescue operation and it was agreed by all party present that the money be shared amongst us.No compensation can make up for the risks we have taken with our lives in this hell hole.
The above figure was given to me as my share and to conceal this kind of money became a problem for me so with the help of a German contact working here and his office enjoys some immunity i was able to get the package out to a safe location entirely out of trouble spot.He does not know the real contents of the package and believes that it belongs to an Asian American who died in an air-raid before giving up trusted me to hand over the package to his family.There is a secured way of getting the package out to a safer country for you to pick up.i will discuss this with you when I am sure that you are willing to assist me.
One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter with a third party should you have reasons to reject this offer please destroy this mail as any leakage of this information will be too bad for us. I do not know for how long we will remain here but hopefully and before the year runs out,I have survived 2 suicide bomb attacks by the special grace of God this and other reasons I will mention later has prompted me to reach out for help.
Thanks,
Capt. Mike
cmdr. of Charlie Company.
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Anti-fraud resources:
