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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.
- rs.janeewewilliams@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <>
Reply-To: mrswendyjanee1@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:42:50 +0200
Subject: My Donation Gift
Hello my beloved in the Lord.
My name is Mrs. Wendy Jane Williams from South Africa,suffering from long
time cancer of the breast presently hospitalized. I do not a child due to
my sickness. All indication from my doctor that my conditions is really
deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I wouldn't live more than two
months, according to my doctors and in all indication regards to medical
analysis. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited
from my late husband to you for good work of God. I will be going in for
an operation soon. I decided to WILLING donate the sum of 20.5 million
dollars for charity work to you for the good work of God, to set up a
foundation for the Orphanage.YOU WILL ALSO GET 30\25 OF THE MONEY WHICH
WILL BE; SIX MILLION AND ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS $6,100,000 AS YOUR
COMPENSATION FOR HELPING ME FULFILL THIS DESIRE OF DONATION,I will provide
you more details information after knowing your willingness to handle this
fund with fear of God.Get back to me on (rs.janeewewilliams@gmail.com)
Thanks and God bless.
Mrs. Wendy Jane Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
