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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:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Farl Kudirat <farlkudit4918@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: akmfarl4918@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:04:29 +0100 (BST)
Subject: God bless you as you read and reply
From. Madam Farl Kudit.
My Dear Beloved,
Based on your good profile I want to solicit foryour help in fulfilling my wish, I am Mrs. Farl Kudit. 56years old widow fromFrance Monaco, my husband and I worked with Tullow oil Cote D’Ivoire and he died sevenyears ago, I am writing you this message via a computer lap top on my sick bedat the hospital were I am undergoing medical treatment I have been diagnosed ofEndometrial cancer unfortunately for me my doctor said I don't have any chanceto survive except by a miracle I have spent a lot of money on medical treatmentyet no improvement.
The reason why I am writing you this letter isbecause I want you to stand as beneficiary to the sum of my $ 7.5 Million(Seven million five hundred thousand united states dollars) I don’t have anybiological child of my own who will inherit this money neither do I have anyadopted child My relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealthsince my illness and I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this hugeresponsibility to any of them anymore.
I want to donate this money to support churchesand evangelism I also want to help children and orphanages in your countryDonating this $ 7.5 Million dollars as charity is the only legacy I can leavebehind after my death, help me to fulfil this goal before I die and pleasealways remember to pray for me when I die my soul will rest in peace. Pleasethey political crisis here in my country so I will like to transfer this moneybefore anything happing to the money so if you are will willing to help mereceive this money please I will like you to contact me today.
Expecting to your message soonest
Sincerely,
Madam Farl Kudit.
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