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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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 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.
- kagerer_gerhard@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR KAGERER GERHARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kagerer_gerhard@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 04:41:21 +0200
Subject: investment inquiry!!
Dear Sir/Madam,
I know this message will come to you as a surprise but I would appreciate if you would take your time to read. I am contacting you briefly based on the Investment of Four Million United States Dollars presently in a diplomatic security vault in the United States. I have a client who is
interested in investing in your country, but he has never done business in your country before. I find it imperative to solicit for a partnership.
Hence upon receipt of this letter, I implore you to kindly respond and let me know how possible it is to work with you in mutual partnership. My client desires absolute confidentiality in the handling and management
of this brief within 5 years. For your information, my client is also a retired minister of petroleum from one of the Africa country which I will disclose to you as we proceed.
Please send your response back to me by email address:kagerer_gerhard@aol.com
I will appreciate that you include a brief profile of yourself and your
company for me to better appreciate your personality.
I look forward to your response and our partnership.
Regards,
Kagerer Gerhard
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Anti-fraud resources:
