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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Eman Gdour." <msysysy60@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: simbbb02@adinet.com.uy
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2012 06:08:10 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: HELLO !!
Hello Dear
Dear,youmay be surprised to receive this letter from me considering thatwedon't know each other in person before but due to the trustandconfidence i have in you made me to share this opportunity withyou.Sorry if my mode of contacting you annoys you ! I am Miss Eman.FromLibya 25 years of age! I am sending you this mail to seek foryourassistance to invest ($3.5 Million US Dollars) I inherited from mylatefather who was a politician and a contractor with an Italian firmthatmine gold in my country.
Mylatefather was assassinated along with my mother during the politicalcrisisthat happen in my country in Libya, Let me know your capabilityto helpme. I shall appreciate if you agree to help me in this regards,upon your
acceptance i will furnish you more of my details.
Yours Faithful,
Miss Eman Gdour.
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Anti-fraud resources:
