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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:
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Seok Ho Lee <SeokHoLee001@outlook.com>
Reply-To: SeokHoLee002@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2016 12:38:13 -0400
Subject: Confidential Request
Good day!
I believed this mail will reached you in good condition, if so glory
be to God.
I am an ATM programmer in Shin Han Bank here in South Korea and I need your
urgent assistance to validate your name in our bank system to make you a
beneficiary to the sum of Ten Million United States Dollars and credit it into
your nominated bank account for onward investment in (Hotel industries and
Estate building management) or any profitable business in your country and I
will give you 40%, for your assistance. If this interests you please
get back to
me for details.
I expect your urgent response only if you can handle the stuff.
Thanks for your understanding and I wait your immediate update.
Seok Ho Lee
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Anti-fraud resources:
