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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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.
- benjamin_thulani@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BENJAMIN THULANI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benjamin_thulani@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2013 16:00:16 +0530
Subject: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Mr.Benjamin U.Thulani,a South Africa national presently in London UK. I came across your email contact during research on Indian business directory,hence i decided to let you know about my interest for a reliable Indian business associate whom i can invest my money under his/her supervision on various forms of profitable business sectors. I will make available 6.million United States Dollars for the investment.
If you are interested to associate with me,it is obvious that you recommend a profitable investment sector where we will venture into so that we can proceed with out hesitation in discussing the very important aspect of forming the company towards our overall mutual interest & benefits. I am looking forward for your early positive response if you can assure of your ability to direct me on how to make the establishment a success under your management as a good citizen of India.
Yours truly,
Mr.Benjamin.
E-mail= (benjamin_thulani@yahoo.co.uk).
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Anti-fraud resources:
