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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- dnobleananna102@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Anna" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnson2020davidson@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 19:13:41 +0100
Subject: Your Feedback now Pls
Hi....
My warmest greetings to you today, hopefully okay and healthy for you and your family? My
names are Princess Anna Al Khalifa . I am 27 years old Single Female,University student
when my father was killed by his political opponents in our Country Sudan. I am the daughter
of the late Adviser to the Sudanese President . My late Father was a distinguished figure in
Sudan,when my late Father was alive he had previously held the positions of governor of
Khartoum, agriculture and information minister. They were killed in an accident in northern
Sudan. You can confirm it here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6244884.stm
I am presently living in asylum in one of the West Coast Country because of the political
crisis in our Country that led to the death of my father. I like to get acquainted with you
because I think you could help me in my quest to meet a devoted and trustworthy person to
discuss and handle a very important joint business venture to INVEST MY INHERITANCE FUNDS in
your country in order to secure my future. Please get back to me with your full email
address and details of contact telephone for details:dnobleananna102@gmail.com
I humbly plead for your lifetime help to safe my future,
Respectedly yours,
Zainab Anna Al Khalifa
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Anti-fraud resources:
