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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 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Hussain Mohammed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bvfashionsa@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2016 05:28:57 -0800
Subject: Compliment of the season, I await your fast response
Customers service,
Dear Sir.
(Investment inquiry on behalf of my first party client)
In view of the urgent and private nature of our intentions to go into a joint investment program with your establishment, we wish and request that you forward to us the direct contact to the CEO of your Establishment.
I am soliciting your humble attentions to this matter as we will like to discuss the terms and conditions of his investment policies before we can commence with the perfection of documentations that will assume this venture the beneficiary of the investment funds.
My clients (Savimbi family) has in their the disposal the sum of twenty five million united states dollars that they wish for your venture`s co operation in securing and investing these funds into the financial system of your state without any complication, We have confidence in your investment opportunities to withstand the value of those funds for the required period of time we agree on.
I will also like you to treat this humble request with integrity and confidentiality as the political system in my nation demands that we secure and invest those funds now without delay.
Please be fast to forward his e-mail addresses, mobile phone number, and direct fax line so that we can communicate with him without further delay.
We also expect you to inform and alert him of our mail.
Thanks and always remain blessed.
Hussian Mohammed (Esq.)
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Anti-fraud resources:
