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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045795130 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- mrs.marycatkins@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary C. Atkins" <mrsmarycatkins@adinet.com.uy>
Reply-To: mrs.marycatkins@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 26 May 2014 09:32:51 -0300 (UYT)
Subject: RE
Attn;sir/ma
I am Mrs. Mary c Atkins, a 48 years old widow from Malawi , married to late Dr.
Prince w.Atkins who worked with Mobile Oil Company here in United Kingdom . My
late husband died in a ghastly motor accident with our two children on our way
to see my parents? in-law in his hometown. Since the death of my late husband,
I decided not to re-marry due to my illness which have defied all medical
treatment and my doctors have informed me that I have a short time to live on
earth. When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of US$16.5M
(Sixteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in a bank here in
united kingdom which is (hsbc bank uk) and my late husband's relatives are
doing everything humanly possible to see that they collect this money from me
as I am even suspecting them of killing my late husband with voodoo and also
responsible for my illness that have defied all medical treatment. I got your
email address from the web directory and decided to contact you so that you can
receive this money on my behalf as the beneficiary as I would not like the
money to be wasted by my late husband's relatives but would like it to be use
for charity work.
Presently, this money is still with the bank here in united kingdom and the
management just contacted me to come and sign some vital documents to enable
them transfer this money to my account as the beneficiary/next of kin. I have
decided to transfer this money to you for the charity work that I have proposed
and all that I will need from you is your trust to see that this money is
utilized for the charity work I have earmarked for it. I will issue to you a
letter of authority as the new beneficiary of this money once I hear from you
to enable the bank transfer this money to you. Please assure me that you will
act accordingly as I stated in my letter and also keep this contact
confidential until this money is released to you as the beneficiary. This is to
ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on earth as 30% of this money will
be for your effort while 70% should be for charity work. Please I need your
trust and believe that you will not disappoint me. My soul will rest in peace
if only my last wish on earth is achieved which is the charity work I have
earmarked this money for.
Remain blessed while I await your urgent reply. You can call me on this
Telephone number below.
Regards,
Mrs. Mary Atkins.
Personal Email;(mrs.marycatkins@yahoo.com)
Tel; +44-704-579-5130
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