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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "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)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- morganholbert@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Morgan Holbert <drmorganholbert@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 21:28:47 -0700
Subject: RE-OUTSTANDING PAYMENT:
*From The Desk Of Dr.*
*Morgan Holbert International Remittance Department, Office. RE-OUTSTANDING
PAYMENT: Urgent Attention, This is to bring to your notice that there is an
UNCLAIMED FUND amounting to Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars only [US$10.500,000.00] in our bank which has remained unpaid in
your favor for a period of time. You are hereby required to contact
urgently via this Email: morganholbert@aol.com <morganholbert@aol.com>
Re-confirm your detail as follows to him: 1.YOUR FULL NAME: 2.YOUR OFFICIAL
ADDRESS: 3.YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR CONFIRMATION: 4.YOUR AGE/OCCUPATION:
Thank You. Yours Faithfully, Dr Morgan Holbert N.B REPLY FOR FURTHER
DIRECTIVES AND INSTRUCTION TO PROCEED.*
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Anti-fraud resources:
