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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.
- 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.
- greglawsonesq@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Stuart Jonker" <grplombon@citescape.com>
Reply-To: greg.lawsonesq@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 05:07:16 -0500
Subject:
My Name's Mr.Stuart Jonker. Given my current state of health,I have
decided to donate what I have to you, I am 69 years old and I was
diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago, immediately after the death
of my Wife, Who had worked with me tirelessly until we were driven out of
Zimbabwe and our farms seized. I have been touched to donate from what I
have inherited from my late wife estate to you for the good work and
support since we never had any children, rather than allow My wife
relatives to use our hard earned funds ungodly.Please pray that the good
Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he
has because He is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation next
weekend. I decided to WILL/donate the sum of US$98million to you for the
good work and expect you will help support the motherless and less
privilegeand also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot
take any telephone calls right now due to my deteriorating health
condition. I have adjusted my WILL and my Executor is aware I have changed
my will; Contact my Executor:Greg Lawson Esq. Principal Partner Lawson and
Associates Email:greglawsonesq@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
