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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- lisayukov@katamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Lisa Yukov <evargas@natclar.com.pe>
Reply-To: Lisa Yukov <lisayukov@katamail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 13:54:25 -0500 (PET)
Subject: PLEASE HELP
Dear Friend,
I hope this mail meet you in good health. This message may come to you as a surprise, but be assured it is in good faith from a widow in need. I know you might wondering how I came about your email, I am glad to inform you that I got your email from a search. My Name is Mrs.Lisa Yukov, I was married to late Dr.Yuri Yukov who was an Oil Merchant and international businessman before he died in the year 2001 after a brief illness that lasted for only five days. We were married for Seventeen years with a daughter (Lillian)who later died in an Automobile accident. Before the Untimely death of my husband we were both born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my Matrimonial home which the Bible is against.
My reason why I am contacting you is that I have being diagnosed with acute cancer. following my health situation, my Doctor has just informed me that I may not last for the next couple of weeks due to the serious illness. I have decided to donate my wealth in cash to a trusted and reliable person who is willing to utilize it for the up liftment of God kingdom and for the less privilege people. Please kindly respond back to me via my email (lisayukov@katamail.com) if you are willing and 30% shall be willed to you while the rest is to be used for the up liftment of God kingdom by you.
Regards,
Mrs Lisa Yukov
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Anti-fraud resources:
