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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.
- 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.
- wassi.net1@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Jose Luis <jose_luis_net1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: revkelvincc@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:17:59 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Urgent response is needed.
Dear Sir
I am sorry and apologize for the silence and bridge in communication between you
and my mother; I want you to understand that my mother is now receiving medical
treatment in India.
Due to your delay in claiming the funds, the consultant contracted an Indian
American who devoted his interest and due effort to make sure that the funds was
transferred to his account for the investment as earlier negotiated after
clearing the dual government taxes. He is making arrangement to relocate us into
USA as he wants me to be his son suitor so we can base in the USA perhaps the
investment project is sited in the India so he will manage the project.
My mother told him of your effort and the promise she made to God because of you
so to accomplish it, they agreed 10% of the US$7,500 000. 00 be assigned to you
while 10% be assigned to destitute and churches so at your convenient time, you
may contact the consultant through this email wassi.net1@gmail.com for collection of your quota but make sure you
include the below so they will attend to you accordingly else they might ignore
your letter.
*Your Full Names
*Your Telephone and Fax Numbers
*Your Recent Resident Address
*A CODE - Appreciation 375
Make sure that the above CODE is included on the SUBJECT LINE for immediate
recognition by their management to avoid embarrassment but make sure you
cooperate with him at the moment, my mother has no access to telephone
and internet as she is being restricted to it until she get back to her feet so this
has made her request me to try visit public cyber cafe to send across this
message.
Yours truly,
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