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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)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand 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.
- mrslina.thompsonmoore1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrslina thompsonmoore <mrslinathompsonmoore500@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:25:17 +0200
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT RESPOND
Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Lina Thompson Moore, The Bill and Exchange Manager in Bank
of Africa (BOA) Burkina Faso, One of our customers, with his entire
family was among the victims of plane crash and he has an account with
us valued at $10.7million us dollars (Ten Million Seven Hundred
thousand us dollars) in our bank since July 2008 and according to the
Burkina Faso law, at the expiration of 10 years if no body applies to
claim the funds a grace of thirty (30) days will be given before the
money will revert to the ownership of the Burkina Faso government.
My proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the
next of kin or distant cousin for us to claim this money.
(1) Full names:..................
(2) Private phone number:.....................
(3) Current residential address:....................
(4) Occupation:.................
(5) Age and Sex:.........................
I shall intimate you on what to do when I get your confirmation and acceptance.
please reply to this email address mrslina.thompsonmoore1@yahoo.com
Yours faithful,
Mrs.Lina Thompson Moore
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Anti-fraud resources:
