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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:
- "god fearing " (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.
- mrshajiyaturai_yaradua@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Hajiya Turai Yaradua <mrshajiyaturaiyar.aduaprivacym@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 16:47:00 +0200
Subject: I Contact You On A Mutual Trust And Understanding...
Dear Good Friend,
I am Mrs Hajia Turai Yar'Adua wife of the Late President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar' Adua, I got your
contact through a serious and dedicated search of a God fearing person
who will assist me invest wisely in his country. Your company /
contacts is in a directory which I found in my husbands personal study
room and I decided to contact you for a mutual business deal.
I am interested to invest the huge fund of $45.5m which my husband
deposited in the security company in your business / company in order
to partner with you if you can assist me claim the fund out from the
security company where my late husband deposited the fund. Please
direct me on how to go about it. I will be glad to receive your early
response as soon as possible.
Looking forward to your urgent response,
Mrs Hajia Turai Yar'Adua
For The Family
Alternative Email: mrshajiyaturai_yaradua@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
