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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 friend" (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.
- info.officestein122@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrs colleen middleton <mrscolleenmiddleton1@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <MRS.COLLEENMIDDLETON@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2015 10:16:22 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting my fund transferred. For your $2.5MUSD which I left behind for your past efforts, I want you to contact my pastor Rev. Dr.Michael Stein,
Email: (info.officestein122@yahoo.com) Let him know I gave you his contact and reconfirm to him your below information:
Your full name_________________________
Your address__________________________
Your country___________________________
Your age______________________________
Your Proffession________________________
Your Phone number______________________
so that the bank will convert your payment into a traveler's Master ATM card and deliver it to you for cashment in any bank operated ATM machine in your Country.
Note also that I can only be reached via email for now as I am currently away and very busy in my on going investments here with my partner and I will be busy till about next six months time or a year.
Best regards,
MRS. COLLEEN MIDDLETON
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Anti-fraud resources:
