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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- susan20@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <susan20@centrum.cz>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:04:15 +0200
Subject: hi
hi
I am Mrs. Susan Johnson , the widow of late Mr.Japhet johnson Jr film actor
and former presidential candidate in philippine i, am writting you to help me
retrive out the sum US$12.5m ,million usd which my late husband deposited in a
security company abroad before his unfortunate death i will give you
20% percent of the total money i am looking foward to hear from you  to give you contact and informations of the security company abroad were the money is deposited .Please kindly write me back to give you more information . I am waiting for your urgent reply,through my private email here(susan20@sify.com)
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Remain Blessed
Sincerely Susan Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
