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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Edward Gilly <edwardgilly6@gmail.com>
Reply-To: waxdnxe@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:05:29 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED
--
Dear Friend
I hope this letter meets you in good health. I know it will take you
by surprise to receive this information because emails like this flies
over the internet telling people about funds.
My name is Mr Edward Gilly. I am in control of US$15,000,000.00 (
Fifteen Million United State Of America Dollars) deposited in my bank
by my late Client. The fund is being held under a Non-investment
account without my late Client family's name, My Client instructed
that this funds should be be kept TOP SECRET until he decides what to
do with it.
As my late Client Account Officer and manager of this branch of
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK Ghana LTD, I plan to activate the account with
your name as the original depositor and then process outward
remittance of the funds to you. You will get 30% of the total funds
for your role plus investment of my portion under a documented working
agreement.
Please get back to me with your response and we will move quickly to
consummate the deal.
Regards
Mr Edward Gilly.
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Anti-fraud resources:
