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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- helphaitikids@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Carol Williams <helphaitikids@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:17:48 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: YOUR REPLY IS URGENTLY NEEDED
Dear Sir/Madam
We are (POT/RED CROSS) working hand to hand with UNN and BRITISH GOVT to make
sure that people of Haiti regain access from poverty. Well it all
happened that Haiti have a big Financial problem ever since the last
Earth Quake that killed not less than 5,000 people (Jan 2010). And
we are there to help them out by making sure people that understand
what poverty look like to Donate any Amount they feel like supporting
so Haiti kids can be Eating, Drinking water and have good source of
life. So if God touches your heart to help them my beloved brother/Sister
please kindly get back to us, so you can have our payment information
.God bless and please keep in touch. You can feel free tell us where
you from, your age and your Occupation Sir/Madam
Thanks so much for your Concern to help poor kids in Haiti..And also
kindly get in touch with us so we can provide the (ACCOUNT) You Can
Pay To or a (WESTERN UNION Money Transfer Detail's)
Regard:
YOU CAN REACH US WITH THE MAIL BLOW:- helphaitikids@yahoo.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
