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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- 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.
- mrs.treasure_johnson@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Treasure Johnson" <arno20333@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrs.treasure_johnson@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 14:45:14 +0000
Subject: RE: FOR GOD"S WORK
Dear Friend;
I am Mrs. Treasure Johnson , I am a dying woman who
have decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ motherless
babies/less privileged/widows’ was diagnosed for cancer for about 2
years ago. I have been touched by god to donate from what I have
inherited from my late husband to you for good work of god. I have asked
god to forgive me and believe he has because he is a merciful god I
will be going in for an operation soon.
I decided to will/donate
the sum of $18.5Million US Dollars to you for the good work of God, and
also to help the motherless and less privilege and also forth assistance
of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right
now due to the fact that my relatives (that have squandered the funds
agave them for this purpose before) are around me and my health status
also. I have adjusted my will and my lawyer is aware.
I wish you
all the best and may the good lord bless you abundantly, and please use
the funds judiciously and always extend the good work to others. As soon
you get back to me, I shall give you more info on what I need from you
then you will contact the bank and tell them I have willed those
properties to you by quoting my personal file routing and account
information. And I have also notified the bank that I am willing that
properties to you for a good, I no that you do not know me but i have
been directed by God to contact you on this. Please repond to my secured
email (mrs.treasure_johnson@yahoo.com)
Yours faithful friend,
Mrs. Treasure Johnson
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