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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: renee tower <reneetower50@yahoo.co.nz>
Reply-To: renee tower <reneetower02@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 23:37:18 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: HELLO
 Hello!
I am Renee Tower,20 years old; I was raised up by a single mother who was a missionary before she died few months ago. My mother was rich ,she was also running a farm with a ranch with investment in stocks and shares before she died. I am passing through a lot of financial problem due to her departure.She willed all her savings to me but she told the management of the bank that the fund must be released to me only if i present a guardian,whether male or female.
I saw your information on the net and I was touched in my heart to contact you as the right person to help me out with this. Please I need your help and co-operation. All I want from you is to stand as my guardian and get the money transferred into your account and then I will come over and start up a good business with you and complete my education. There is no risk in this transaction and it is strictly based on a written instruction signed by my mom for my safety.
I await your urgent response.
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Renee Tower.
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Anti-fraud resources:
