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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Terry Donald" <terry@ronekenthme.com>
Reply-To: terrydonald6677@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 18:03:11 +0000
Subject: Re. Our Business Transaction
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Re. Our BUSINESS TRANSACTION!!
Minerva House Third Floor
London, SE1 9DH
United Kingdom
This letter might also come to you as a surprise but it is coming with
the best of intentions and will be of mutual benefit to all the
parties involved. I am Terry Donald the chief security officer in a
bank here name withheld for security reasons. I am writing to solicit
your assistance to secure funds that are already to move through a
diplomat to your country. The fund in question is total of $5,000,000
(Five Million United States Dollars) All in $100 bills and stashed in
Two trunk boxes and is ready to move through a diplomatic means by a
Diplomat BUT he is NOT aware of the real content of the boxes for
security reasons.
I am looking For your assistance in getting the boxes out to your
country and securing the funds, we will give you 20% of the total fund.
NOTE: There is no risk involved in this project because we are just
three that is involve in this deal here. Please you should keep this
transaction a top secret as we are prepared to do more business with
you pending your approach towards this project.
I await your urgent response.
Thanks.
Mr. Terry Donald
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