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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- helenfrance1952@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: gf fdt <g.5.f.811@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:50:21 +0000
Subject: FROM: MRS. HELEN FRANCIS (URGENT)
Contact me:
From: Mrs.
Helen Francis
Telephone
+27786200632
Email: helenfrance1952@hotmail.com
Dear Friend,
TRANSFER OF US$12.500.000 00 MILLION
You might be
surprise to receive this letter from me since you don't know me personally. I
am Mrs. Helen Francis the wife of late Mr Michael Francis who was murdered in Zimbabwe. But
before the death of my husband, he anticipated some dangers and so he smuggled
out the sum of $12.5 million dollars (twelve million five Hundred Thousand
dollars) to South Africa and deposited it in a Security Company with the
intention of using it for the purchase of farm machinery and chemicals for
agricultural Purpose in South Africa and establishment of a new farm in
Swaziland.
The ruling
party trooped into our compound and axed my husband to death and my second son
of 26yrs. Since then they have been terrorizing my son Anthony but we managed
to escape to neighbouring country South Africa as a political asylum
seeker (refugee)
Our position
in South Africa
does not permit us to open an account or to operate any business. That is why I
want this fund to be transferred in your account so that you will assist him to
invest the money in your country. If you accept to assist us we have also
mapped out 30% of the money for your assistance, while the remaining 70% will
remain for me and my son Anthony, if you are really capable and willing to
assist us please contact me immediately in South Africa with this telephone
+27786200632, or email: helenfrance1952@hotmail.com
Kind regards
Mrs. Helen
Francis
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Anti-fraud resources:
