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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Rita salaimata Coolins <reverendpaulroma@gmail.com>
Reply-To: missritasalimatacollins@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:33:28 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE !!!!
Hello, I am looking out to buy a female and male puppies because there
is my friend Mr, William Johnson from United States of America who
want to send me the money which he is owning me and his is willing to
send $10,250 to me but right now he travel to Japan for vacation trip
and I need the money to buy out things but due to me now i am not in
the country rigt now that why I am searching for an assistance person
from Europe or USA that will be willing and trustworthy to help me
cashed the cheque from Mr. William Johnson. Please are you in Europe
or United States? If so, then can you help me to cash the cheque and
your share is 20% from the total money you will cash from the cheque
and then you send me the remaining balance to enable me buy what I
need please and be bless.
This business is 100% legitimate and let us help each order, please
get back to me if you are interested for more information to enable us
proceed.
God bless you.
Your's.
Missritasalimata Collins
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