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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:
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Michelle Bachelet <saboohi@uoz.ac.ir>
Reply-To: Michelle Bachelet <michellebachelet123@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:41:50 +0330 (IRST)
Subject: From Michelle Bachelet.
Hello My name is Michelle V Bachelet I know this mail might come to you by sudden but I want you to know that some top US Finance officials have plotted against you to make sure that you do not receive what was legally entitled to you which is the 10.5 Million that is currently with the only beneficial Bank In the World which is in London.
By the grace of GOD I just came into the country today and I saw your file on my desk and I discovered that this top US officials has sworn to make you suffer in order to make you forget about your fund thinking that it never existed. This is a very top secret which you must not reveal to anyone because I want to help you get what belongs to you. Right now I am in the UN Quarters so I would want us to be communicating via text message and emails only, I will be the one to do the phoning maybe when ever I am out of cover. You can text me on (563) 223-8716. I have a solid plan that will make you receive your money back within the next 48 hours if only you will follow my instructions.
Write me text message once you receive my mail so that I can tell you the next plan.. Remember its should be kept confidential
Thanks and God bless you..
Michelle V Bachelet.
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Anti-fraud resources:
