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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- joyce_4u1@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "joyce bello" <plaxo@mx.plaxo.com>
Reply-To: belloj83@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:18:55 -0700
Subject: joyce bello shared a poll with you on Plaxo
joyce bello shared a poll with you on Plaxo and wanted you to
know.
http://www.plaxo.com/public/event/189179187281?src=email&et=6&el=en_o1&key=a3e8c9986d915f6d83bfbfe5ac4d9b3cc1bd6296&email=mmm-muenchen%40cannabislegal.de&share_id=6699668&share_key=1953660755&name=&webmailfix=1&lang=en
Dearest One,
My name is Mrs. Joyce Bello. It is my pleasure to contact you
for a business venture which I and my son intend to establish in
your country. Though I have not met with you before but I believe
one has to risk in confiding before success sometimes in life.
There is this huge amount of ($6,800,000.00) million dollas
which my late husband deposited in a bank here in EUROPE before
he was assasinated by unknown persons. Now I and my son decided
to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough
outside Africa for security and safety. We want you to help us
transfer it into your personal account in your country for a good
reliable bussiness investment and complition of my son's
education.
If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer
to you
20% Of the total fund. I await your soonest respons to my
private
email address of my son. joyce_4u1@yahoo.co.jp
Respectfully yours,
Mrs Joyce Bello
(0 votes)
This poll will end in 1 week
http://www.plaxo.com/public/event/189179187281?src=email&et=6&el=en_o1&key=a3e8c9986d915f6d83bfbfe5ac4d9b3cc1bd6296&email=mmm-muenchen%40cannabislegal.de&share_id=6699668&share_key=1953660755&name=&webmailfix=1&lang=en
Thanks!
The Plaxo team
More than 20 million people use Plaxo to keep in touch with the
people they care about.
Don't want to receive emails from Plaxo any more? Go to:
http://www.plaxo.com/stop?src=email&et=6&el=en_o1&email=mmm-muenchen%40cannabislegal.de
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Anti-fraud resources:
