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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:
- "security company in holland" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Rich Juliet <richog201@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Rich Juliet <julietrich02@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 18:22:20 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Best regards
>From Rich Juliet
Nice to meet you. My Name is Rich Juliet the Son of late Mr and Mrs Chimjirigi Rich i am 18 year's old My father was a very wealthy Cocoa and gold merchant
here in Cote d'Ivoire.
My father died of heart attack in a hospital on February this year, but before his death he told me he deposit the INHERITANCE in a security company in
Holland/Netherlands which he registered as family safe keeping with the security company for the safety and security of the INHERITANCE.
I want you to help me secure this my inheritance from the security company in Holland/Netherlands as my late father's foreign business partner because my
mother died twelve years ago. also know you will help me come over to your country to continue my education while will help me invest the money for me in a
good business. I assure you there is No Risk involve the money is my inheritance from my late father (Not yet married).
I will be waiting to hear from you soon.
Best regards
Rich Juliet
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Anti-fraud resources:
