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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "AMINU USMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <directpaymentofficer1945@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:04:25 -0800
Subject: Expecting Your Reply!!!
Business Inquiry.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I got your email while searching for a business oriented personality that can help me achieve my dreams as they said opportunity comes but once in a life time, my name and information about me is witted for security reasons.well I bring to you a business proposal in the tune of Four Hundred eleven Million,five hundred United States Dollars Only.($411,000,500 USD) to be transferred to an offshore account with your assistance and the percentage is 50%50. 50% for you and %50 for me and my colleagues. this is not about you bringing money or any ingenue act you will see for your self because the money will be transferred to your offshore account.
this might look like a joke to you but smile its a real once in a life time business. i and my colleague are really in search of a trusted person we will transfer this funds to that will never be greedy to treat us bad like sum stupid greedy Nigerians. please write me let me forward the details of the deal to you and immediately tell you the roll which you will act on very easy and risk free.
kindly click on reply to direct payment officer then i shall write you from my private email so we can get to know each other before the deal thanks and God bless.
Best Regards.
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Anti-fraud resources:
