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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms O.E. Miriel Grant" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ophelgran@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 10:18:57 -0700
Subject: May god bless you
Dearest one,
I am Ms O. E. Miriel Grant a nationality of Indonesia but resides in Accra until unfortunately a house ablaze which was plotted by enemies killed my parents, Before this sudden death tragedy which came upon us, my parents had left some acquired reasonable sum of Money and 100kg of Gold kept here in Accra-Ghana and ready to be shipped under the authorized license of my late father and all I am soliciting is for your urgent assistance to transport them out so that I can relocate to your country and join you for my safety before the people that killed my parents kill me too because their death after proper investigation was linked to have connection with my parents relatives and co workers who works in our mining company all because the want to take over the company, may their rest in perfect peace. Amen.
I am soliciting for your full support and help to receive these funds and Gold to a safe account in your country or any safe custody as my legal trustee and investor of the funds in overseas to avoid the people who killed my parents in Ghana snatch all from me because am leaving under fear now and my parents are late.
I have plans now to continue my Education and do investment in your country, like real estate management which is under my studies in school.
Pls. contact me urgently for further details
May god bless you
Ms O.E. Miriel Grant
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Anti-fraud resources:
