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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Grange" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rebecagarang@webmail.co.za>
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2019 00:12:20 -0800
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE
Dear Friend
How are you? My name is Mrs. Rebecca Garang, Wife of a prominent politician from Sudan Late Dr. John Garang, the Late Sudanese Vice President who died in a plane crash on 22nd July 2005 under suspicious circumstance.Presently, there is a substantial amount of money that my family needs to move out of a country in Africa for profitable investment purposes, I shall provide you with further details when I receive your positive response.
Waiting for your urgent response
Mrs Rebbeca Grange
(On behalf of my family)
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Anti-fraud resources:
