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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:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- catarislus@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Catarina Fredriksson <catarislus@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Catarina Fredriksson <catarislus@myway.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 07:31:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear beloved,
Dear beloved,
I hope this mail meets you in good time, my names are Mrs. Catarina Fredriksson, I am married to Late Mr. Harry Fredriksson who died in Tsunami disaster in Phuket Thailand on 26th December 2004.
Before the death of my husband he made a deposit of $5.5 Million dollars which we intended to use for a hotel business in Phuket, since after his death, I have been battling with Cancer and according to my doctor the stage is uncontrollable now and I have few months to live.
I want to sow this fund from my deceased husband’s enterprise as a seed in your care to the glory of God since we have no Child to inherit them.
I have learn that wealth acquisition without God is vanity upon vanity.
Please kindly get back to me with your private e-mail for more information's
Have a nice day.
May the peace of Almighty God be upon you and your family.
Best Regards
Mrs Catarina Fredriksson
catarislus@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
