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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Captain Dick Richard <captaindickrichard@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 16:06:11 +0100
Subject: Can I Trust You?
Hello
My name is Captain Dick Richard.
I got your reliable contact from your country’s Chamber of Commerce
Directory and further explicit investment information about your country.
I am in the United Nations Engineering military camp unit here in Kuwait.
Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for
withdrawing troops from Kuwait, I have been redeployed to come and work on
the platform of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) soon.
I have the sum of $9.7 million dollars with which I made from crude oil
business here in Kuwait with a box containing gold. I need a good partner,
God fearing and reliable person who will receive this money for investment
and safe guard the gold. It is oil money and legal.
As I’m working for the government, I can’t keep these funds, but I want to
transfer or move the funds to you so that you can keep it for me in your
safe account or an offshore account.
The most important thing is that can I trust you?
If you are interested let me know so that I will give you more details.
Regards,
Captain Dick Richard
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Anti-fraud resources:
