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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.
- 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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- sistergracecoleman@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Sister Grace Coleman <charles_boni@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: sistergracecoleman@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 17:45:34 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: CHRISTIAN DONATION FROM SISTER GRACE COLEMAN!.
 Dearest In Jesus Christ, I am Sister Grace Coleman, from Kuwait. I am married to Late Pastor.Charles Boni Coleman of blessed memory who was a well known cocoa dealer in Cotonou Republique Du Benin  for through out his life before he died in the year, 2009. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his sudden death we were both born again Christian. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $2.5.Million-in a General Trust Account with a prime bank in Cotonou Republique Du Benin. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Five months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to help church that will utilize this money to orphanages, widows the way I am going to instruct herein. Bible said "Blessed is the hand that given". I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money.
Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace". I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health.  Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Contact me if you’re a believer I only need your ID card or Driver L/ your full details information, As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in Cotonou. I will also issue you the documents that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the Church to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. . May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to the needy? E-mail :( sistergracecoleman@yahoo.fr ) always pray for me. GOD Bless. Sister Grace Coleman.
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