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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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024037620 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Usman Micheal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.usmanmicheal98@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:26:11 -0800
Subject: More info once I get your details and you agree to help just to be on the safe side.
My names is Dr Usman Micheal a citizen of Switzerland based in london united kingdom and a financial
consultant. Be rest assured that this is an opportunity that came for both of us to be comfortable in life.
Please all I need from you is to make sure that you adhere to my instructions. The funds in question was
originated from Libya and I represent the interest of a client whom as a result of the sensitive nature of
the position he occupies under the present government in Libya and this was coupled with the recent political
problem in their country wishes to relocate all his funds to your country and secure it from freeze.
There's no issue in this matter at all,because the funds will be transfer right from Switzerland since the
funds is already in the below mentioned bank.
This fund in total is $4.8 Million United State Dollars in total, we would share it 60/40 percent, and you
would help me invest in hotels and real estate or any other investment that will be profitable ,note this
money will be transferred from Baclay's Bnk London . i shall give you more details on receipt of your reply .
If and only if you are interested, I need the following:
Your name:
Your direct phone number:
Occupation:
A copy of your identification card:
More info once I get your details and you agree to help just to be on the safe side.
Dr Usman Micheal
+447024037620
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Anti-fraud resources:
