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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Michelle Marcel <am4758966@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: family4441@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:33:41 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Ms Michelle Marcel.....
Ms Michelle Marcel.....
Quite frankly, I
know it may have sounded pretty strange for you on why I chose to
contact you who are a complete stranger to me and I must tell you this, I
contacted you for the simple reason that we do not know each other. It
would be very difficult for me to contact anybody here who knows me for
this purpose as I may stand the risk and chance of being cheated of my
inheritance because the person would have known my weaknesses. I may
even lose my life that is why I decided to contact you a complete
stranger.
My name is Ms
Michelle Marcel the only child of my parent. During the civil and
political crisis in our country, my parents were poisoned by heartless
people. Fortunately for me, I was in the school when this tragedy took
place to my family. I was in coma for almost two weeks. But I thank the
almighty God because I never knew that I could support the shock of
losing almost my family. Right now I am still here in country but very
unsafe for me.
I'm living in
great fear and bondage. I intend leaving this country as soon as
possible but only one thing kept me back. My late father has deposited
with one of the prime financial institution the sum of money,
$3.2Million USD .But unfortunately he did not complete the transaction
before he sudden died. I have mapped out 25% out of the total money for
your help and assistances because it looks stupid for me trying to
confide in a total stranger I never met before. By instinct I am
convinced you are an honest person and you have the capacity to handle
this transaction with me. As soon as it is done, I will come over with
to meet you and spend the rest of my live in your country. I wish to
invest the money into estate business and other good business you may
propose. I promise to greatly compensate you for any assistance you may
offer me. I do not know how you may feel about this but I want you to
take this very serious and confidential.
Please contact me with this email address:
Best wishes
Michelle Marcel
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