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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:
- "million 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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Susan Rhodes" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sbc3715@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 22:00:58 +0300
Subject: I Am Waiting To Hear From You.
My Dear beloved Friend,
Greetings in the name of God. I am Mrs. Susan Rhodes. I am 58 years old and I am suffering from a
cancer of the lungs. From all indications my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that
according to my doctors, I may not live for the next two months. This is because the cancer has gotten
to a very dangerous stage. I was brought up from a motherless babies home in the US and was married
to my late husband for twenty years without a child. My husband died in a fatal motor accident in
Nigeria while as an Engineer with Chevron Nigeria in 2002.
Before his death we were devoted christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry. I sold all my
inherited belongings from my husband and deposited a total sum of US$10.5Million Dollars with a bank
since 2008. This money is still with the bank. I have no use for the money presently in view of the short
time I have left on earth. I've been adviced by my lawyer to issue a letter of authorization to somebody
to receive it on my behalf before it is too late wherein the account would have become dormant and the
bank will confiscate it and turn it over to the government.
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a private hospital here in Lagos where I have been undergoing treatment.
My doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see that this money
is invested on charity organizations, nursing homes and the motherless babies homes and worship
centers. I took this decision, knowing that I will soon rest in peace. As soon as I receive your reply I
shall give you the contact of my lawyer who will help you with the paper work of claiming this funds
from the bank.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Susan Rhodes.
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