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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 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 "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "enda_vincent@hotmail.fr" <enda_vincent@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: edna_vincent01@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:29:52 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Hello Beloved
Hello Beloved
I am Mrs Edna Vincent a widow I am suffering from Cancer of the breast.Since my doctor said i can't live more than 4 months again, i have the sum of Twenty million United States dollars which i inherited from my late husband Late Mr Lucien Vincent a government contractor and also an international businessman who export Cocoa to many part of the world before he died. I have only a son with my late husband who is about 11 years. Now due to the maltreatment from my late husband brothers who wants to claim my late husband properties after they have succeeded to pushed me and my only son out of my late husband compound.
Having known my condition this is why I decided to look for someone good abroad who can help me claim this money for the future of my only son and also use part of it for the help of charity, orphanages and widows and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.
I will be grateful for your total willingness to help me in this matter, please there is no time to waste in this regard, as time is just flying and I needed to have this money get to you immediately so that you will take adequate use of the money to support my only son for his future and also to help the charities, homeless and widow's in your country as i directed .
1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust ?
Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
I wait your response for more details.
Mrs Edna Vincent.
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Anti-fraud resources:
