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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "remain 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrs.fadilahrajha@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. FADILAH RAJHA" <mrs.fadilahrajha@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.fadilahrajha@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 13:32:33 +0300
Subject: MY DONATION TO HELP LESS PRIVILEGED
Dearest Be-love One,
I am Mrs. Fadilah Rajha from Syria present in hospital. I got your
contact from your country directory and my trust rely on you. My decision
to contact you is to offer my husband (A Syrian Defence minister killed
in the civil war “General Dawoud Rajha” ) fund to you for charity
foundation in your country.
I was recently diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, because of my limited
life on the earth according to my doctor’s report. I wish to liberally
donate my husband fund to you US$10 Million which he deposited in finance
security company , for the use in projects that will support the
development and humanitarian work in your community to help
less privileged.
If I am pleased with your reply, I will gladly sent you more details and
inform you how to contact the finance security company to receive the fund
to your personal bank account.
Please tell me about yourself and send me your profile details kindly
reaply me on my
EMAIL ID : mrs.fadilahrajha@yahoo.com
Accept my warm regards and remain blessed.
Mrs. Fadilah Rajha
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Anti-fraud resources:
