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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Larry-Hive Ventures Malaysia." <richardedem002@gmail.com>
Reply-To: lawrencebarnett@live.com
Date: Sun, 25 May 2014 20:25:29 +0800
Subject: Dearly Beloved in the Lord
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Dearly Beloved in the Lord,
I am Engr. Larry .B. Peterson a principal investor and oil mogul with
the Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) Malaysia. I got your contact
on my personal search of the person I want to will my money to. Please
I am willing the sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars to you, that is the only money left in my last account
right now.
Please if you really want to know why I have willed this money to you
and you want this money to be transferred to you please contact the
bank manager whose name and address I will give you as soon as you
reply this mail. He will help you transfer this money that I have
willed to you. Right now I am in the hospital sending you email with
my laptop computer and I will tell you my story as soon as I hear
from you.
God Bless you
Yours in the Lord,
Mr. Lawrence Peterson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
