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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "mrskadiaatia@voila.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Kadia Atia <mrskadiaatia@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrskadiaatia@voila.fr
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:53:30 +0900 (KST)
Subject: PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE!!!
Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Kadia Atia from Iceland, married to Late EngrBrown Atia {PhD} who worked with MULTINATIONAL OIL COMPANY EXXON AS ADRILLING RIG SUPPLIER in Kuwait for 19 years before he died on the 22nd August2008. We were married for twenty four years without a child. He died after abrief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, hedeposited the sum of 7.3 US Dollars with the BCABANK In JAKARTA INDONESIA and this fundis presently with the bank awaiting my disbursement as beneficiary and next ofkin to the funds. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for thenext Eight months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided todonate this fund to a church, organization or good person that will utilizethis money in good faith.
l took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit thismoney. I kept this deposit secret till date; this is why I am taking thisdecision. I don't think i will need any telephone communication in this regard becauseof the confidentiality of this transfer. Upon your reply I shall give you thecontact of the BCA BANK. I will also issue a letter of authorization to thebank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money. Replyto my very confidential email address below { mrskadiaatia@voila.fr }
Await your responds and God bless you.
Mrs. Kadia Atia
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Anti-fraud resources:
