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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "AMBASSADOR PAUL W. JONES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ambassadorpaulwjons@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 17:53:19 +0100
Subject: Reminder: The Delivery Process Has Been Finalized..
I want to use this medium to inform you that your US$45 Million which was bequeathed to you by a benefactor as a Next of Kin has been approved for immediate release to you.
Due to the problems associated with transferring large sums of money from one country to another on a bank to bank basis, we have decided to have the funds delivered to you in cash with the aid of Diplomats who have the capability to do so.
Please note that the said funds have been bonded and packaged in such a way that no amount can be deducted from it.
Reconfirm your Full names, Complete Residential address and your direct telephone numbers immediately because the Diplomats will have to speak to you on phone when they arrive your country before proceeding to your residential address.
Forward the requested information so that I can release the information that you will use to identify yourself when the Diplomats arrive your city of residence.
Regards
Paul W. Jones
US AMBASSADOR TO MALAYSIA
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Anti-fraud resources:
