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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 message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: TERRY THOMPSON <leetil@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 13:02:37 -0400
Subject: I need your help
I'm in the UK for a cancer treatment. I was diagnosed a few months ago and I have been secretly undergoing treatment in the U.K. Right now I'm in a difficult situation. I need $1000 to make up for my treatment, I would appreciate it if you could lend it to me and I promise to refund you as soon as I get back on Saturday. Anything you can afford to lend me will be appreciated. Please keep this between us as no one knows I have cancer, I am coming to you because I feel I can turn to you for help and trust you to be discrete. Please get back to me so I can tell you how to send the money to me. Thanks.
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Anti-fraud resources:
