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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:
- "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)
- "dannyshorechamber@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Paula Anderson <info@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: dannyshorechamber@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:56:15 -0500
Subject: God Bless
God Bless,
My name is Mrs.Paula Anderson I am a dying woman who have decided to donate
what I have to you/ church.
I am 69 years old and I was diagnosed of cancer of about 2 years ago.I have
been touched by God to donate from
what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the 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
later today.I decided to WILL/donate
the sum of (Seven.five million dollars.)to you for the good work of the
lord,and also to help the motherless and less privilege
and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any
telephone calls right now due to the fact that
my relatives (They had squandered the funds i gave them for this
purpose before)
are around me and my health status.
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 well and always extend the good work to others.
Contact my lawyer with this information:
Name:Barr.Danny Shore
Email:dannyshorechamber@live.co.uk
Tell him that I have WILLED ( 7.5M) to you by quoting my personal reference
number Her/lr/45/xz and I have also notified
him that I am WILLING that amount to you for a good work.I know I don't know
you but I have been directed to do this.
Thanks and God bless.
Regards,
Paula Anderson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
