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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:
- "million british pounds" (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: "Mr. Xu Tony" <pinatm@postino.net>
Reply-To: pinatm1@volny.cz
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:50:29 +0100
Subject: Respond to Me
Attn:
I picked the courage to contact you based on trust not minding a total
stranger
you are to me because I believe people get to know themselves and
become friends
only but one day, which can lead to everlasting business and family
relationship. Well, my name is Mr. Xu Tony, Portfolio Manager with Maybank
Investment Bank. I have a business Deal of £22.4Million British Pounds in my
possession that needs a foreigner to have it executed.
If you are interested and can be trusted get back to me and I will
send you the
full details of the Deal.
Mr. Xu Tony
Portfolio Manager
Maybank Investment Bank
London, United Kingdom.
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Anti-fraud resources:
