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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",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.
- misssonia_w@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MISS SONIA WASIM <misssonia_w@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2013 10:44:23 +0000
Subject: Regards and respect
Hello Dear,
I am Miss.Sonia Wasim from Sierra Leone but residing in Ivory Coast in
Africa.
It is my desire to contact you on honesty and sincerity to assist me in
transferring the sum of $8,000,000(Eight Million United States Dollars)
with gold and diamond inherited from my father Cdt. Munir Wasim to your
country for investment. I am motivated in contacting you and hope to
gradually build trust, relationship and confidence in you as I get to know
you more better.
Please I want you to be of assistance at first we have to understand better
ourselves and our prority. I am willing to offer you $1,600,000(One Million
Six
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for your input assistance to the
successful retrieve of this cash and valuables for investment. Indicate
your interest towards assisting me. I will be waiting for your response.
Please for a direct and safe communication write me via email ID:
misssonia_w@yahoo.com
Thanks
Regards and respect
Miss Sonia Wasim
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Anti-fraud resources:
