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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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr David Jackson <davidjackson2O78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davidjackson2078@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 10:08:25 +0100
Subject: Hello
Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB
To. Beneficiary
I am Special Agent David Jackson and I am here in Nigeria as
an FBI delegated Agent to investigate all fraudsters who are
in the business of swindling Foreigners that has one form of
business and another in Nigeria .
Please be informed that during my investigations, I got to
find out that there was a huge sum in millions that was been
assigned in your name (Beneficiary) and the fraudsters were
only busy swindling you without any hope of transferring
your fund.
NOTE: You are not suppose to pay that huge amount from the
beginning before the release of your fund and transfer of
your fund to you.
We have to inform you that we have made some arrests in
respect of this delayed over due fund payments. I have a
very limited time to stay here in Nigeria; so I advice that
you urgently respond to this message.
I shall be expecting your response as soon as you receive
this email. Please, do not inform any of those people that
collected money from you about this new development in order
not to jeopardize our investigation. You must get back to me
urgently.
Best Regard,
DAVID JACKSON
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION NIGERIA DIVISION
INVESTIGATION ON ALL ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER
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Anti-fraud resources:
