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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 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Markson Johnson." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markson@pinoy.org>
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2015 20:20:27 +0800
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS/REPLY
Hello,
I'm Markson the personal assistant to a politician working under the out going
president Good luck of Nigeria. I have been mandated by the politician
to seek for your partnership to receive an embezzled fund in
a foreign account in the bank which I shall refer to you after.
This is to enable him ( the honorable ) empty the account from trace of the new president.
all you are required to do is to open an Internet banking account with the bank
where the said fund is deposited and the account officer will transfer
part of the fund ( 15 million dollars) to you or we can arrange with the bank to
move the fund to your country through diplomatic arrangement.
The Total amount in the account is 150 million dollars and we have to disburse this fund to 15
trusted individual who are ready to partner with us to enable the
honorable empty the account.
After the transfer, I shall visit you On
behalf of the honorable for sharing. 35% goes to you and 55% to the
honorable. contact me via my private email and send me your phone
number to enable us speak on phone.
Regards
Markson Johnson.
Personal Assistant to the President
Office of the presidency
Aso Rock Villa, Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
