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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:
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Vina Long <asolaina@crtvg.es>
Reply-To: Vina Long <vina.longs@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 20:42:45 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Please Read This
First of all I want to thank you for your interest and concern, My name is Mrs Vina Long the wife to late Mr Marty Long, i am doing this because i will be going for an operation as i have lived with cancer for some time now and before my late husband died we had no children. I need you to bear my last name (LONG) to enable my attorney prepare the necessary document to transfer the funds from my husband online offshore account and property to you.
I want you to help me with this as i am very sick and cannot do this myself as i have to make my last wish come true. I need you to sell the property in Medford NJ and 30% of the total sum should be transferred to any orphanage home. I was supposed to place my ad on craigslist but because of too many scam email i decided not to.
I have a house in Medford NJ (USA) and a total sum of GBP£4.3Million(Four Million Three Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling) in my late husband online offshore account which i have instructed my attorney to transfer the account of the person i have decided to make my next of kin. All you need to do is fill out the required information below and send it to me via my email address if interested.(vina.longs@msn.com)
REQUIRED INFO
YOUR FULL NAME: -------------AGE-------
PERMANENTADDRESS: ----------------- COUNTRY: -------------
Thanks again for you concern and Stay blessed.
Mrs Long
vina.longs@msn.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
