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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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "JOHN WRIGHT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnwrightgg@cpll.cn>
Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2012 07:17:40 +0100
Subject: LOAN/LEASE PROGRAM.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner; I find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business as a brokerage/loan analysis agent.
I have sent several email messages to you, are you in anyway experiencing the world financial crisis, business liquidation/ bankruptcy? having consider the rate of which small scare and big companies experience loses due to the tax inflation in all countries today we the G2 INVESTMENT GROUP WORLDWIDE have decided to establish an open opportunity to release tensions from those who will find it interesting to boost up their business again. Our banks can raise or issue you a bank to bank financial instruments/cash transfer to your nominated bank account as the case maybe. Minimum rate of loan is from the sum of $500,000.00USD to the ton of $1billion United States Dollars as the lead currency in the global market trade, to enhance/upgrade your business acquaintance that is if requirements and conditions are met.
Kindly furnish me with your complete bank information and your full contact details.
Regards,
John Wright
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Anti-fraud resources:
