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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Stephanie Smith" <compras@fritzdobbert.com.br>
Reply-To: stephanie.ssmith@yandex.com
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2016 02:46:55 -0800
Subject: Please let me know you got this message.
Greetings my dear. I know you will be surprised reading from me today but consider this a divine intervention. My Name is Mrs. Stephanie Smith from United States and I desire to entrust a huge amount of money in your care. It is my last wish to use this money for charity, alleviating poverty for the less privileged, widows and orphans hence I seek a God-fearing person who share my concern and Vision to actualize this because my health will no longer permit me the time.
Please reply and give me your word to further explain reason for my decision.
Remain blessed,
Stephanie Smith.
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Anti-fraud resources:
