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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 us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Rachael Stewart" <r_stew000@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: r_stew0@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:53:12 +0100 (CET)
Subject: BENEFIT
Mrs. Rachael Stewart.
23 Les Caches St.Martins,
Guernsey,Channel Islands United Kingdom.
Attention
HAPPY NEW YEAR""""""
I am the above named person but now undergoing medical treatment in London
England. I am married to Dr.Richard Stewart. who worked with British
Railway Commission in Chelsea England for over a decade before he died on
5th of July in the year 2006.We were married for fifteen years without a
child.He died after a brief illness that lasted for two weeks.Before his
death he made a vow to use his wealth for the down trodden and the less
privileged in the society.Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get
a child outside my matrimonial home.When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of $18,000,000 (Eighteen Million US Dollars) with one
Finance House.Presently this money is still with the Finance
House.Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 150
days due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my
stroke.Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to an
individual or better still a God fearing person who will utilize this
money the way I am going to instruct
Yours sincerely
Mrs.Rachael Stewart.
Benefactor.
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Anti-fraud resources:
