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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "auction" <auction@ssministries.com>
Reply-To: albert.tony94@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 1 May 2013 00:45:24 -0400
Subject: Hi
Hi,
I got your email from a marketing company in the US, and i decided to tell you
about the business opportunity in the company where i work. I work with a
multi national jewelry company in Texas USA. We are in need of raw materials
in our company and i will like you to stand as the supplier of the raw
material in India so we both can make extra profit from it.
My Company always visit your country (India) to procures most of their raw
materials since the past two (2) years in huge quantity.They pay for the
materials on Cash on Delivery (C.O.D.) basis upon verification of the
materials.I am looking for a reliable person/businessman that understands the
Indian local language who will assist me in contacting the local dealer of
this product in India. I have called the local dealer many times, but could
not understand the local language or rather my accent, to enable me negotiates
the terms of the supply with them.
This proposal is 100% risk free and will be another income generating business
outside your Specialization.I will give you more details of this proposal the
moment I hear from you.
I await your urgent response.
Best Regards,
Tony Albert
Operations Manager
Andre Group,Texas. USA
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Anti-fraud resources:
