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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Kadi Fuya" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kadifuya_1@email.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:42:19 +0100
Subject: From Miss Kadi Fuya.
>From Miss Kadi Fuya.
Dearest one,
I am Miss Kadi Fuya a 19years old girl from Libya.The only Child of Late Mr and Mrs Abard Fuya. We were leaving in Libya were
my late father was doing oil business between Libya and Nigeria. In the cause of the political problem there which led to the
killing of former leader Mamman Gadahfi, when he was going out with some people one morning, he was mistakenly shot by some
rebels. So when he was rushed to the hospital,he died the following day.Meanwhile i have equally lost my mum as a result of
Diabetic problem.
Before my father died, he told me that there is one million five hundred thousand united states dollars(US1.5million) which
he deposited in a bank in Nigeria with me as the next of kin. He said he got the money when he was doing business with one of
the oil companies in Nigeria.
The main reason i contacted you is that i have been to the bank to claim the money since my name is used as the next of kin.
But the bank told me that i can only claim the money when i am 25years. Or claim the money now, i should look for a
foreigner who will help me in receiving the money.
This is why i contacted you. So please i want you to contact me today if you are interested in helping me.
I awaits to hear from you today.
Miss Kadi Fuya
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Anti-fraud resources:
