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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)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barbara Arenas" <susancole3@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: momcole@rediffmail.com
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:02:25 -0300
Subject: Re: Dear Beloved
Dear friend,
I am Susan Cole,I was married to Engineer Roberts Cole an English man. My husband was into private practice all his life before his death. Our life together lasted for three decades without child.
My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he had passion for persons who can not help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.
When my husband was alive he deposited the sum of 6.5 Million (SIX MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS) with a Finacial Institute herein United Kingdom. my Doctor told me that I have limited time to live due to my stroke problems and high blood pressure which I am suffering from.
I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use 60% to fund the Charitable work.As soon as I receive your reply to assist me, I shall direct you to the Finacial House who will release the money to you to start the charitable work,
Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in replying will give me room in sourcing for a mosque or church or Moslem or Christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hear from you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Mrs.Susan Cole.
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Anti-fraud resources:
