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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.
- 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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- smith196k@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mike Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikes1960@rocketmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2014 16:40:01 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Good Day
I apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this might not a proper manner of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this venture, I decided to reach you via this medium to join me put claims on this fund before it is seized or confiscated by the authorities. I got your contact information in the public records while searching for a similar name to my late client, a Business Magnate that lived in Spain for Nineteen years but died with his family during the TSUNAMI in INDONESIA and BALI that occurred in December 2004. Do not be amazed by this letter, I am contacting you based on trust and confidentiality attached to this transaction.
This transaction is 100% risk free as I have worked all out to complete the operation effectively. Once this fund is released to you, it will be shared in the ratio of 40% for you, and 60% for me as our benefit which is ($7.4 Million for you) and ($11.04 Million for me). Kindly indicate your interest by mail to: smith196k@gmail.com for more information. Please endeavour to get back to me whether you are willing to collaborate with me or not so that I can further my search for another partner.
I wait for your prompt response.
Regards,
Mike.
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Anti-fraud resources:
