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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:
- "million us 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- mrscrystalbomberry@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS CRYSTAL BOMBERRY <info.beninrepubliclandrevenue@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrscrystalbomberry@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:06:48 +0100
Subject: Attention: Dear
Blessings,
I am not feeling too fine and presently battling with Cancer and
Fibroid. My Doctor has just informed me that I have only 2 month to
live due to my ailment. Having known my condition I decided to donate
my deposits valued at $8.5Million US Dollars to either a
charity/orphanage home or devoted God fearing individual that will
utilize this money the way I am going to instruct. Please respond if
you can help me in carrying out this humanitarian service,I mean no
offense but any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for
an individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will
act according to specification herein.
All I require is your honest co-operation, a guarantee of your
sincerity and capability to enable us concludes this deal. Note
however that the sensitive nature of this transaction demands that you
have to keep it absolutely confidential. Please accept my apologies,
keep my confidence and disregard this letter if you do not appreciate
this proposition.
Please for further communication you can contacte me through my
private email address ( mrscrystalbomberry@yahoo.fr )
Yours Sister.
Madam Crystal Bomberry
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Anti-fraud resources:
