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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- 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.
- chinsang6@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "chin sang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chinsang6@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2015 08:07:16 +0100
Subject: Your attention is highly needed
Dear Friend,
It is understandable that you might be a bit worried because you do not know, I know,
but I have a
lucrative business proposal of mutual interest to share with you. I have your reference
in my search
for someone who fits my proposed business relationship. I am a banker by profession and
am currently the
Post of Director of Accounting unit of my bank. I have an obscured business suggestion
You. I will need you to assist me in executing a business project. it
comes to
The transfer of a large sum of money. More from this transaction legally without
Hitch done.
Please note Endeavour to the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this topic. As Soon As
the fund
have been successfully transferred into your account, as we will in relation to the two of us
share
agree. I prefer you me on my private email address achieve:
chinsang6@gmail.com and
finally after that I can give you more information about this operation.
Please, if you this e-mail are not interested delete and do not hunt me because
i mean
Career and the life of my family at stake with this venture. Although nothing ventured the
does not win.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Chin Sang
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Anti-fraud resources:
