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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- 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.
- nienshenglin11@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Nien-Sheng Lin<root@storkcad.com>
Reply-To: nienshenglin11@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2016 17:41:04 +0100
Subject: I Need Your Reply Immediately
Dear, I will be very glad to read from you today as you receive this messag=
e. I have prostate cancer disease and the doctor says that I have just litt=
le days to live in this world before I die. I am half US and Half Asia Citi=
zen. Now that I am about to die because of this prostate cancer disease, I =
want to hand over my One Million Dollars Bond which I invested with Anglo G=
old Mining and Exportation Company in Ghana. It is my last wish to help unk=
nown person with my wealth but you must assure me that you will use at leas=
t 30% of my wealth to help the Syrian refugees in turkey Turkish Disaster M=
anagement Agency (AFAD) it is said that the Syrian refugees in southern Tur=
key has risen to 101, 834. You must promise me that you will disburse 30% t=
o help them and 30% of my wealth to help the orphanages home, widows and po=
or people in your country and you take the remaining 40% of the fund for yo=
urself so if you promise to follow all my instructions write down your tele=
phone number and address in your reply to this mail to enable me give you m=
ore information. Please reply to my secure Mail: nienshenglin11@yahoo.com R=
egard, Nien-Sheng Lin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
