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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.
- 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)
- 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.
- kimchenglaw73@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sandra L.Grant." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kimchenglaw73@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 15:41:37 -0400
Subject: Sandra L.Grant...RESPONSE NEEDED
With good faith and intention I have selected you to be the beneficiary of the amount of 6.5million dollars that I won on the Massachusetts billion dollar lottery. my name is sandra l.grant. I am a 86 year old widow from Massachusetts , I currently reside in Japan . I have moved here for security reason after have received series of email and call from relative and friends who are unsatisfied with what I gave them. Ever since this win i have received endless demand from friend and family so I decided to move to Japan when i felt threaten my life might be in danger. after my win I have asked the lottery organization if there was a way I could claim my price using a random name and also not appear on news paper or TV but they have declined stating that that’s the only way they have to show people that someone have actually won the lottery and was listed on this link among other winners: http://216.148.246.172/news/winners_jul_dec_2007.html.
I do hope you learn from this and keep it personal to your self until you feel safe to disclose anything to anybody you have full trust. I will urge you to donate half the amount of this money to two charity organization which I will recommend to you and you can use the rest to make a better future for your self. I have kept the money in the custody of an attorney under the name of Kim Cheng I want you to contact her by this email(kimchenglaw73@yahoo.com) stating your complete name, telephone number and address and also forward this email to her as well. I have spoken to her about it and she will be expecting your email. She will prepare the entire legal document required to remit the money to you I wish you the best of luck.
sandra l.grant
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