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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Owunila Lubi" <Guan@mbs.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: <owunila@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2018 13:11:45 -0300
Subject: Re: Dear Friend.
Dear Friend
My names are Owunila Lubi, I make this contact with the hope that I can trust you to assist me secure funds of my principal deposited in an offshore account. The content of this mail are expressed in clear confidence and solely for your personal consideration.
My principal instructed me to make sure that this fund deposited in an offshore security company is retrieved ASAP using a discreet foreigner to facilitate clearance of the deposit. Therefore I am using this medium to request for your assistance in transferring ownership of the sum of $35m safely secured in an offshore security firm.
I need your cooperation to transfer ownership of this fund to you for our joint investment benefits. He has proposed to take 50% of the fund, give you 40% and 10% for my coordination. I assure you that this transaction is totally free from any risk. I will brief you more on receipt of your reply.
The essence of quick attention is based on his present travails with the authorities hence he does not want to another such information that will escalate the present dicey situation. Please let me have following details as an indication of your willingness to co-operate with me in the transaction.
Your full names:
Residential/office address:
Business:
Age and Marital status:
Your private/Hand telephone:
Please indicate your most private email address that is only accessed by you to avoid divulging information to another person
Yours sincerely
Owunila Lubi
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Anti-fraud resources:
