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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ron Wheeldon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wheeldon@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:28:43 -0800
Subject: From Ron Wheeldon
>From Ron Wheeldon
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Ron Wheeldon, Sole executor of late MR. NOVIKOV PAVEL. NOVIKOV was a businessman who lived and died in the Benin and also had businesses in BENIN the West Africa part of Africa.
I have tried to find his extended relatives whom shall be suitor/inheritor to his abandoned personal funds and all such attempt has been to no advantage. The bank has threatened to seize these abandoned personal assets; in line with existing laws.
On this note, I decided once more to look for a possible family member (regardless of distant). I need your approval to introduce you as the closest family member to him. I have good records that would bestow you legal rights.
Feel free to email me or call my phone number above so we can discuss further on this.
Yours sincerely,
>From Ron Wheeldon
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Anti-fraud resources:
