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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 united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Updateme Online <updatemeonline2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: nathanadjei00@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 12:36:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOD BLESS
Good Day Sir/Madam.
My name is FELIX MILDRED NARTEY the only child of late CHIEF MILDRED NARTEY he was killed by armed robbers on his way to his business mining site while my mother died in labor room when she is about to deliver me years ago as i was told by my late father is obvious that i do not know whom my mother is .
I will say my father was rich, he owned a GOLD mining company but his company later be sold by his family members after his death out of mismanagement.
Well Let me go direct to the point ,I highly wish to contact you regarding my inheritance two trunks boxes containing ($5.5 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS with 45Kg OF GOLD DUST )deposited by my late father in a private security company here in Ghana in my name as his next of kin beneficiary,But was deposited as families belongs for security reasons.I seek your assistance to come as my guardian to claim this boxes containing the amount with 45Kg of GOLD DUST above in your name and transfer to your country, On the conclusions of this claim in your name i will join you in your country for the sharing according to percentage we will agreed on and base there to further my live time
Presently i am in a remote village were i run to for my life safety also for the safety of my inheritance because my father family members are desperate to kill me for the sake of my inheritance.
Am willing to give you 30% out of the total money involved with 10KG of Gold dust at the close of this transaction
I do expect to hearing from you and be bless.
Felix Nartey
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Anti-fraud resources:
