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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: "Silver kings" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <silver.kings1980@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 05:42:32 -0800
Subject: Hello
Attention..
I am Miss. Silver Kings from Los Angeles in USA. I am daughter of late Sir Henry Kings My father was a gold dealer before he met his death in Africa Nairobi Kenya . I am presently residing Johannesburg in South Africa , were I am doing business before my father’s death.
I wish to bring to your notice an intention of mine to go into gold business as this was necessitated by my fathers death. It may please you to know that my father deposited 150kg of solid gold in a bank in Nairobi Kenya ,
Dear friend, I will like you to assist me in these ways;
1)To buy or look for buyer for this 150kg solid gold. 2)To see if you can join me in this gold mining business.
3)I wish you to come and see the gold yourself.
I wish to let you know that I will contact an expert in gold business to handle this business with you if you indicate your interest. The 150kg solid gold is well secured in a security firm bank in Nairobi Kenya . Every assistance made to the success of this transaction will be highly appreciated. And i can assure you that you will be receiving 20% of this gold worth over 17million dollars . I will please want you to work with me to assist me by traveling to Kenya to sign off this gold in the bank there and it will be converted and paid to your account or transfer to your country in RAW GOLD .Please respond urgently indicating your willingness to help
Best regards,
GOD BLESS YOU
Silver Kings
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Anti-fraud resources:
