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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Jewel Howard-Taylor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drmalvis200@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 23:59:48 +0100
Subject: Your Response Is Highlly Expected Today Please
Dear Sir
My name is Mrs. Jewel Howard-Taylor and I am confidentially contacting you for a very crucial investment project/contract I will like to embark with
you. And like you know husband Charles Taylor has serious problem right now and he is facing judgement in Siera leaon for war crime and this has affected my
family so much and for the interest and future of my children, I want to make an urgent investment in your country or any good place in the world
through you for the upkeep and upbringing of my children as we really do not know the faith our family any more.
Meanwhile please note that almost all our account has been frozen including mine and you can log-in and see the lists in
this website:http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8176.doc.htm but I have a private account in one of the banks and it is from this account you
will pick up fund and make the investment confidentially. But before I go ahead to give you more details and my investment plans and your compensation, please
I will like you to re-assure me 100% of confidentiality in this investment as this is my only hope and I will like you to give me your most secured email
address and telephone numbers for all our communications.
I wait for your reply urgently to enable me give you more details.
Thanks and God Bless You
Mrs. Jewel Howard-Taylor
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Anti-fraud resources:
