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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 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.
- 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.
- ridamustaa1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "nurse ann" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ridamusta1@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:18:14 -0700
Subject: sir/madam
Hello dear,
I am Mrs. Rida Al Mutasim from England, I am a childless widow.
I fought against cancer fibroid problems and hearing impairment as a result of drug reactions. We were
married for eight years without children. He died after a short
illness. Recently, my doctor told me that I would not last long in the
next 3 months because of my illness with cancer.
I have a deposit of (Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand
united states dollars) in a financial institution which was realized
after a contract with an oil firm in Middle-east.I want to invest this
fund into charity organization; In short I want to use it to improve
humanity. I am taking this decision because I do not have a child who
will inherit this money and I can not believe my relatives, because
they were hostile to me, since I have been suffering cancer.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall inform my lawyer to help you
for the release of the fund to you. send me your reply in this email
ridamustaa1@yahoo.com
Mrs. Rida Al Mutasim
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Anti-fraud resources:
