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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "capt.andrewhut@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: capt.andrewhut@qq.com
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 09:40:18 -0300 (ARGSL-ST)
Subject: Urgent Assistance need
I am Capt. Andrew Huth, presently in Afghanistan with the US Army for a
peace keeping mission. I found your contact particulars in an address
journals, i summoned up courage to contact you. I am seeking your
assistance in evacuating the sum of $8,600,000.00 (Eight Million and Six
Hundred United State Dollars) to you for safe keeping as long as i am
assured that this funds will be safe in your care till i complete my
service here . Please Note that this is not a stolen money and there is no
risk or danger's involve. Please get back to me via my private and
confidential email for details on: (capt.andrewhut@qq.com). I will be more
detailed in my next email to you on the source of money.
Thanks for your assistance.
Regards
Capt. Andrew Huth
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Anti-fraud resources:
