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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million us 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin 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.
- joy2008wilson@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Josie Wilson" <linn3_2008@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Josie Wilson" <joy2008wilson@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2014 09:39:14 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I am Mrs Josie Wilson,
 My Dear Beloved in Christ,
Greetings to you and your family i am Mrs. Josie Wilson A widow to
late Mr. Nanu Wilson of Ivory Coast i am 59 years old, my late Husband was a
Director with the Construction Company here before his Sudden Death by pancreatic cancer sickness 2013.
But before his death, he deposited the Sum of $4, Million US dollars with one of the Bank here in Ivory Coast in a Fixed Suspense Account with my name and presently i am suffering from the same pancreatic cancer sickness my condition is really bad and it is quite obvious that i won’t live more than two months according to my doctor and i have no Child who is going to take care of this Huge amount of Money i am willing to donate the Sum of $4, Million US dollars for you to help widows and the less privileged ones in the rural and urban areas and to carry out charity works in your Country and around the World on my behalf.
I need your urgent respond.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ.
Mrs. Josie Wilson.
EMAIL ADDRESS: joy2008wilson@yahoo.co.jp
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Anti-fraud resources:
