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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Doan Huong" <mrsdoanhoung@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrshuong@pdpeastsouthzone.org
Date: Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:56:11 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS NEGOTIATION
--
My Late Husband Dr. Huong Dong was a Well Known and Accomplished Man
who had Vested Interest in so many Business areas which made him amass
Great wealth before his Death While Domiciled in Libya but after his
Burial his Relatives Seized all the Monies and Properties that
Survived the War since he didn't leave any Will and was in in fact ill
Prepared about his Death which was quite sudden and a shock to me
having lived practically all his life in Tripoli Libya with his
Siblings.
He had a Deposit with a Bank in Europe Amounting to Thirty Five
Million Great British Pounds Sterling (GBP35M) Having me as the Next
of kin in the Mandate File which Nobody is aware of it except me Right
now i am in Cotonou with my son and has contacted the Bank Officials
who Confirmed everything but did say that access Cannot be Granted on
the Funds nor any Transaction/Order Carried out on the Account until i
have met with the Inheritance Claim Requirements of the Country.
Given my Condition and inability to handle this matter that's why i am
Contacting you so that you Urgently assist me with all that has to do
with the Release Requirements Upon which arrangements shall be made
for our Traveling to Join you so that my son shall Continue his
Education while you Manage the Funds as my Managing Partner.
I am offering you 20% Net of the Amount for your Assistance while,I
shall give you further Details Upon Hearing from you. (Contact me
through email for details)
Do please Keep this matter Confidential in view of our Personal and
Funds security
Thanks
Mrs. Doan Huong
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