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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million united states 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)
- "million us 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Faith Abraham <wumdian75@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dw095958@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2022 23:25:50 +0100
Subject: HI
--
Dear Beloved in Christ
Greetings to you and your family. I am Mrs. Faith Abraham A widow to
late Mr. Pius Abraham of Ivory Coast. I am 58 years old; my
lateHusband was a Director with the
Construction Company here before his
Sudden Death in this Country. He Deposited the Sum of¨$6 Million US
dollars (Six Million United States Dollars) with one of the Storage
firm here in Ivory Coast with my name and now i am suffering from
pancreatic cancer.
My condition is really bad and it is quite obvious that I won’t live
more than two months according to my doctors, and I have no Child who
is going to take care of this Huge amount of Money, I am willing to
donate the sum of $6, Million US dollars (Six Million United States
Dollars) for you to help widows and the less privileged ones in the
rural and urban areas and to carry out charity works in your Country
and around the World on my Behalf. Waiting for your Urgent Responds
for more information.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ.
Mrs. Faith Abraham
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Anti-fraud resources:
