419 scam: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=B4=FA=B8=D5=AA=CC?=" <test@wenhao.com.tw> I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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 "dying widow" scam.
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.
- sarahrasheed78@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=B4=FA=B8=D5=AA=CC?=" <test@wenhao.com.tw>
Reply-To: sarahrasheed78@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2013 21:26:59 +0800
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

Sarah Rasheed
Dubai United Arab Emirate.
E-mail: sarahrasheed78@yahoo.com
Hello dear,
I am Mrs. Sarah Rasheed a Christian married to a Muslim, now a widow to late
Zakir Rasheed former owner of Petroleum & Gas Company here in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates. I am 59 years old, suffering from long time Cancer of the
breast. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's
quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors.
This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don't want
you to pity me, but I need your assistance and trust.

My late husband died earlier 2011, from Heart attack, and during the period of
our Marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late husband was very wealthy
and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has
advised me that I will not live for more than 2 months, so I have now decided
to spread all my wealth to contribute mainly to the development of charity in
Middle East, Africa, America, Asia, Europe, ETC. I am sorry if you are
embarrassed by my mail. I found your profile and e-mail address in the web
directory, and I have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find
this mail offensive, please you can ignore it and please accept my apology.

Before my late husband died he deposited the sum of Eighteen million, Two
Hundred Thousand United States dollars ($18.200.000.00 Million) in a Bank some
years ago, that's all I have left now, I need you to collect this funds and
distribute it yourself to charity, so that when I die my soul can rest in
peace. The funds will be entirely in your hands and management. I hope God
gives you the wisdom to touch many lives that is my main concerned; 30% of
this money will be for your time and effort, while 70% goes to charities that
will appreciate your assistance for this project.

Please contact me via e-mail: (sarahrasheed78@yahoo.com)
Because the doctor has stopped me from receiving and making calls due to my
health condition.

I look forward to your respond and co-operation toward this great charity work.

Truly Yours,
Mrs. Sarah Rasheed

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam