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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- abu0147@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Abu Abu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abu0147@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:55:56 +0200
Subject: Attention:
Attention:
I write in respect of the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting held at the Guildhall in the City of London. Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations gather in London for a two-day meeting to map out rules to prevent a repeat of the crisis and scam perpetrator that brought the financial system to the brink of collapse.
According to Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti and South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, we have resolved to
compensate 20 scam Victims funds beneficiaries with the sum of US$10.5M (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only. And my office has been authorized to release the payment immediately i receive payment application from any of the scam Victims funds beneficiaries.
You only need to pay for application form then send your account details and the money will be sent to you account that same day.....
I am waiting for your response now on this email only: abu0147@gmail.com
Yours Sincerely,
Abu Abu
+2348079731210
Nigerian Finance Minister
Email: abu0147@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
