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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "million us 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)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- kldarunakantha@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR KLD ARUNA" <tsw@centrin.net.id>
Reply-To: kldarunakantha@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2018 20:21:09 +0700
Subject: FROM THE ZIMBABWEAN FORMER FIRST LADY
Dear Sir/Madam,
It is my pleasure to contact you to discuss investment opportunities of
US$62.8 Million Us Dollars , I must apologize for using this
unconventional means to contact you in a business of this nature but
please understand that i am in dare need.
I am MR. K L D ARUNA KANTHA a very close confidant of the former first
lady of Zimbabwe Mrs. Grace Mugabe prior to the military intervention
that ousted President Robert Mugabe I helped the ex first lady to move
some funds out of Zimbabwe to South Africa amounting to US$62.8 Million.
This money i deposited in South Africa as is family valuable under a
proper arrangement with a private firm that keeps valuables. She has
instructed me to secure this money out of South Africa for investment as
she feels the resentments she is facing after the change of government and
wish to retire with this money.
I will introduce you to the financial attorney that assisted us to make
this deposit to explain to you more and work with you on how we can move
this fund out immediately
The fund will be shared in the ratio of 80% for us and 20% for you for
your assistance rendered. Please note that this fund will not be
investigated or recalled in the near future as all document to move this
fund will be legally obtained by the financial attorney.
Be assured that this is a legitimate fund and will be transferred
legitimately. Thanks for your anticipated Co-operation. PLEASE YOU MUST
CONTACT ME VIA MY PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNT BELOW.
E-MAIL: kldarunakantha@gmail.com
MOBILE: +27 78 059 2087
Sincerely,
KLD ARUNA KANTHA
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