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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:
- "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: Mr Peter Ortorn <kamrul@standardbankbd.com>
Reply-To: <paulzuludean@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:41:27 -0700
Subject: RE
--
Please permit me to brief you on matters arising from my immediate
discussions.
I am on strict instructions to brief you. I would like to seek the
collaboration of a start up founder. I am Mr.Peter Ortorn a private
broker based in Mayfair London. I represent an African official (an
executive director in a government department) who has asked me to
discuss with a start up founder for his venture capital.He would like to
take up stakes in an array of start ups that maybe introduced to him.
The official (hereinafter referred as my principal), has plans under
construction to become a member of the European and Global Money Market
and expect this to put him in the good mood to play venture capitalist
on the side.Due to nternational trade barriers and bottle neck against
the African government officials, the venture capital is programmed to
have nothing to do with the principal and for this sole reason I am
directed to search for an appropriate start up to take up stakes. The
total amount involved is $ 17.1 Million Dollars Only.Upon our mutual
discussion I shall request to arrange a meeting with the principal for
familiarization and procedural modality. I would like to state abinitio
that our commitment to full implementation shall be unparalleled and
printed in marble and we expect nothing less from our would be
partner.After a successful transaction, we have implicitly agreed that
you shall be entitled to 10% of the total fund for your management trust
prior to other considerations.We also implore your highest understanding
to handle all communications relating to this note with absolute
maturity.
I am looking forward to your feedback.
Thanks with many regards
Mr Peter Ortorn
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