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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:
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mrsvina.long@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: claudio@maderascovarrubias.cl
Reply-To: mrsvina.long@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 11:21:45 -0400
Subject: SOLICITING YOUR CONCERN
I am Mrs. Vina Long an aging widow suffering from cancer, a long time
illness. Before my late husband died we had no children. I have some
funds I inherited from my late husband. I will ask my attorney to
prepare the necessary document to transfer the funds from my husband
online offshore account and property to you. I want you to help me
with this as I am very sick and cannot do this myself as I have to
make my last wish come true. I have an estate in Medford NJ (USA) and
a total sum of GBP£4.3Million (Four Million Three Hundred Thousand
Great British Pounds Sterling) in my late husband online offshore
account, which I have instructed my attorney to transfer the account
of the person I have decided to make my next of kin. I need you to
sell the property in Medford NJ USA. And 30% of the total sum should
be transferred to any orphanage home. Please contact me with your
details if you wish to wish to carry out this charity project.
Thanks again for you concern and Stay blessed.
Mrs Long
mrsvina.long@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
