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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- marthin61s@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Kenta Brow <kentabro29@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 12:08:17 -0700
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Friend,
I hope this letter reaches you in good health and a happy mood. I am Mr. Marthin Z. Thapelo, a credit manager of Capitec Bank Ltd in South Africa. I need your assistance in executing a business deal. It involves the transfer of US$37 Million dollars. This funds is laying in a dormant account in our bank and is about to be returned to the National Treasury by the end of the year.
I am looking for a capable and reliable person to handle this deal with top secrecy as i would not want my Government to know that i have contacted any one for this fund. With my years of banking experience and recently attaining this position in this bank, i have come to realize that series of funds which have been approved and deposited with this bank are actually overdraft from construction projects during the 2010 world cup held in this country.
I wish to present you as contractor/beneficiary to this fund.
I shall perfect all legal documents in your name to make you the legal beneficiary of the funds if you accept to be my business partner in this venture. Once the funds are transferred to your nominated bank account we will share the proceeds in a ratio of 50% for me,45% for you and 5% for expenses.
If you are interested and wish to have further details about this transaction kindly respond by sending the following information below only to this my private email address. marthin61s@gmail.com.
1. Your full names as they appear on your international passport or Identity document
2. Your home and Postal addresses
3. Your direct personal mobile phone and private fax numbers
4. Date of birth and
5. Sex and Marital Status
6. Occupation and Position
7. Nationality
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Anti-fraud resources:
