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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Juan Carlos" <tessa@chapmar.co.za>
Reply-To: mrjuancarlos13@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:46:41 +0800
Subject: Greetings
Hello ,
I am a Project Manager with the United Nation Development Program Asia
pacific (UNDP) I am also the concerned principal with contract appraisal and
the approval of contracts in order of priority in regards with capital
projects of the (UNDP) here in Asia. With my position as the principal
director of operations, I have successfully secured the sum of Seven Million
Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$7,800,000.00) the amount
was accumulated from over invoices. To this effect I decided to contact you
and ask for your assistance, to enable us work together and transfer this
amount into your overseas account. I am willing to compensate you with 40%
of the total amount upon a successful conclusion of this transaction.
Finally the confidence and trusted repose on you cannot be over emphasized;
therefore you are to keep this deal to yourself completely
confidentially.Your reputation will be highly protected in this transaction.
If you consider yourself eligible and capable to handle this transaction
then contact me with your details information so that I can give you a
verbal update regarding this proposal:
Best Regards,
Mr.Juan Carlos Pena Gutierrez
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Anti-fraud resources:
