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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Margret Larmay " <margretlarmay@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs.margretlarmay@gmx.com
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:45:29 +0800
Subject: Greetings
Beloved Friend, Although we have never met before. I am Margret Larmay from=
Dublin Ireland, presently undergoing treatment in Medview hospital here in=
Dublin as a result of cancer of the liver. I am writing this mail to you w=
ith heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart because my Doctor t=
old me that I will die in three weeks time. Based on this development I wan=
t to will my money which i deposited in a security company in United Kingdo=
m. I am in search of a reliable person who will use the Money to build orph=
anage home for the saints and the person will take 20% of the total sum as =
his/her own and use remaining 80% for orphanage building project in your co=
untry and name it after my name because that was my promise with God. I gre=
w up as an Orphan and i don't have anybody or any family member to take car=
e of my wealth. The total money in question is 2.4 million us dollars. I wi=
ll provide you with other information's once you indicate your willingness.=
Be kind to reply my email please because I don't know what my tomorrow may=
result and I don't want the security company to confiscate my fund as lack=
of unclaimed. Please contact me direct via my personal email address:mrs.m=
argretlarmay@gmx.com Yours sister. Margret Larmay
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