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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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mirelle Nickben <pastoriswelldukesalvationminis@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mirellenickben1@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2017 20:28:51 +0000
Subject: Good day
Hello my dear.
My late father was a coffee and cocoa beans exporter when he was
alive. He was poisoned to death by my stepmother, he died last
November 18th, 2016. Before my father give up, he told me that he
deposited the amount ($4.5Million Dollars) with my name in the
suspense account with a Savings and Loans Mortgage Institution inTogo.
Since after the painful death of my late father, my step mother was
desperately after my life because of this money ($4.5Million) that i
inherited from my late father,I am soliciting for your assistance to
save my life that is in danger because of my inheritance money .I am
presently at Togo Republic now where the fund was deposited by my late
father and for my safety.
I need your maximum assistance to transfer this money into any safe
bank account you can provide for me and to help me to invest the money
into any profitable business or investment you can control on my
behalf while I continue my studies in any best school.
I have made a vow to give you 40% of this money and you will help me
to invest and mange the remaining 60% into any secured investment you
can approve. I want you to receive me and help me as your own daughter
and as your family member to protect my right and my interest with
fear of God as I want to entrust you with all my heart to support me
to archive a better future under your guardian . I'll give you more
details as soon as I got your answer.
Regards,
MS.MIRELLE
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