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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Derrick.Horgan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <derrick.horgan@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2016 06:38:35 +0200
Subject: Dr. Derrick Horgan
Hello
Sorry to contact you through this media but I seek for your urgent cooperation and understanding as I bring to you this business deal. I represent a group of politician who are looking to have investment in your country. Most of these politician are currently facing persecution in their home country due to change of government and therefore wish to move their funds out of their country and some because of the upcoming elections.
For this reason I am contacting you. The available fund is Two hundred million US dollar ($200,000,000.00) and I need you to act as the beneficiary in retrieving this fund or part of it which you will be entitled to 30% of the total sum. I will need you to keep this confidential.
I am contacting you because all my known associate are being monitored. Note that this offer is truly and genuinely made to you with all honesty, sincerity and with fear of God. So do not worry or panic about anything. I want you to be rest assured that this transaction is going to be carried out under a legitimate arrangement that will not breach either the law of your country or mine, hence it is hundred percent risks free. All I need from you is your trust, cooperation and understanding. Please do let me know your interest as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Best Regards.
Dr. Derrick Horgan
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Anti-fraud resources:
