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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:
- "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.
- melaniatrump809@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "I am Mrs:Melania Trump" <"www."@ace.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "I am Mrs:Melania Trump" <melaniatrump809@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2017 23:34:11 +0900 (JST)
Subject: i discovered of which worth the sum of $15.5million dollars
I am Mrs:Melania Trump.
i discovered of which worth the sum of $15.5million dollars.
on behalf of my husband my love my sweet heart his Excellency Donald J.Trump to use this medium inform you that the funds
which is the total sum of $15.5million dollars is to be delivered to your home address today.
the only thing you will do is send your home address and your current cell phone number including your nearest airport and i
will send some of my assistance to deliver the funds to you the only certificate involved in this is eccowas clearance paper
which cost only $100.
get back for the info and where you can send the $100 to in order for you to receive your funds atm master card.this is my
cell phone (3254808385)message only.thanks best regard to Mrs Melania Trump: melaniatrump809@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
