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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:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Linux Insurance Service" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <linuxinsuranceservice@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 14:45:57 -0400
Subject: RE: MESSAGE UPDATE FROM LINUX INSURANCE SERVICE? 2
LINUX INSURANCE SERVICE
21 Alen Street , Plot 34/35 Oshodi-Apapa Express
Way Off Murtala Muhammed International Airport,
Asaba-Nigeria.
Hello
How are you doing today?. well i want you to understand that we have waited for a very long time before now, trying to give you chance in other t get the required fee to complete the delivery of your package to your home address.
So please kindly let us know if you have been able raise the payment to enable us facilitate the delivery of your package to your home address and also let us know if you are Interested OR not getting the package so we can cancel the delivery and return back your package to sender, so we wait for your prompt update in receipt of this mail.
Name: Eluem Jude
City: Asaba
Country: Nigeria
Text Question: In God
Text Answer: We Trust
Amount: $78
Murice Bruce
Director Linux Insurance Service
Phone:+ 234-8082152920
This correspondence is protected by copyright and trademark laws under Nigeria and International law. All rights reserved. © 1995-2012 Linux
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This email and any attachments to it contain information that is confidential and may be privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s) please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information contained in it is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this email in error, please return it to the sender and delete the email from your records.
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Anti-fraud resources:
