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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.
- 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: "DMRSA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <department.of.minera@km.ru>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:35:50 -0800
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT!
I am Raguvhoni Zack; Director of Project, South Africa Department of Minerals and Energy. I am making this contact
with you based on the Committee need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with a facility to a
money transfer.
This fund represents the balance of the total contract Value Executed on behalf of Department by a foreign contracting
firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid.
What I am requesting from you is to be our silent partner and receive the funds as the sole benefactor to the contract amount.
This transaction will be structured with legal documentation to cover the fund; met with all international regulations regarding
fund transfer.
Finally, I will discuss and agree on your commission for your corporation. While I wait for your reply for full details along with
your full name; contact address and telephone number.
I await your immediate response.
Best Regards,
Mr Raguvhoni Zack
+27-742-782-900
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Anti-fraud resources:
