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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sr.Gulliver Fritsch" <sr.gulliver_fritsch18881@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: "Sr.Gulliver Fritsch" <mmmms_ds@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 21:58:08 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT MAIL FROM SR.GULLIVER FRITSCH
I am contacting you today
with regards to a huge financial deposit made with my financial institution
here in Paris France amount of
€25,000,000.00(TWENTY FIVE MILLION EUROS)
Â
The money has been
deposited in our institution since 2006 and I recently realized that the owner
has since passed away without a will or Next of Kin, hence the deceased died
without a will or Next of Kin I want you to stand as beneficiary of this fund
in order to get it transfer into your account for both of us to share it.
Â
however you are not to face any difficulties
or legal implications be rest assured also the money will be shared 50/50, I only
want you to assist me by providing a reliable bank account where the funds can
be transferred,If you are capable of being my
trusted associate do declare your consent to me while looking forward to hear a
positive response from you immediately in order to provide with further details.
Â
Best regards.Â
Sr. Gulliver
Fritsch,Â
Paris-France
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Anti-fraud resources:
