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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- williamsdonald494@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Donald Williams <mrdanielrodgers2@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 May 2015 11:39:45 +0000
Subject: Business offer
Dear Friend,
I am Mr. Donald Williams from the republic of Togo in west Africa, i
am proposing to you that i will present you as the next of kin and
beneficiary to this deposit. This deal shall be done legitimately and
successfully. After the money is transferred to you, I work as a
banker in one of the banks which i will mention to you latter here in
Lome Togo.
We had a client who died in a ghastly accident. He had the sum of
$9.500.000 in an account with us. Our communication will be better if
you will contact me at my Email address below.
(williamsdonald494@yahoo.com)
Thanks and Regards.
Donald Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
