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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:
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- matra@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rosalie Sumatra" <info@krgtil.kz>
Reply-To: el2.sumatra@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2019 02:45:02 -0800
Subject: Recently Awarded Contract
Dear Sir =
I am the director of finance and supply ministry of minerals and energy he=
re in south africa =
=
Tender board recently awarded contract for the supply of computers to high=
er institution of learning within the provinces in south africa.This projec=
t was sponsored by the world bank education project,worth over USD$500 mill=
ion under the universal basic education scheme however, The contract was ov=
er invoiced in the excess of USD$25,000,000,00. =
This contractor has been paid and the outstanding surplus amount of USD$25=
million is still unclaimed at reserve bank of south africa =
This fund is ripe and ready to be transferred abroad, therefore if you are=
willing to collabrate with me in order to move the fund to your account ab=
road feel free to contact me so that we can negotiate the process of the tr=
ansfer and also the sharing formula. The nature of your job does not matter=
in this deal
=
Your Faithfully Mrs Rosalie Sumatra Ministry Of Minerals And Energy el2.su=
matra@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
