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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- 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.stella2014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrs stella <mrs.stella2013@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 12:02:01 +0000
Subject: PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR INTEREST
Greetings am Mrs Stella Tamar
My name is Mrs Stella Tamar i have been suffering from ovarian cancer
Disease and the doctor say that i have just few days to leave. I am
from Paris France, but based in Burkina Faso Africa, since ten years
ago as A business woman dealing with cocoa exportation, now that i am
about to end the race like this, without any family members and no
child. And i am writing this letter now through the help of my nurse
beside me here in my hospital Room.
I have $3.7Million US Dollars in United Bank for Africa (UBA) in
Burkina Faso which i want you to claim from the bank and use help less
privilege People in your country, but you must assure me that you will
take only 40% of the total money and give the rest 60% to the
orphanage home in your country for my heart to rest with God.
Upon the receipt of your email that you are willing and capable to
execute my plan, i will instruct the bank management to make the
Immediate transfer into your account. Respond back to me through my
private email address: mrs.stella2014@gmail.com
Sincerely
Mrs Stella Tamar
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Anti-fraud resources:
