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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:
- "million 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Stephanie Costar <orgymm@gmail.com>
Reply-To: orgceo23@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 4 May 2015 17:23:00 +0100
Subject: My donation through you for the less privileged,
Greetings to you and your family:
My name is Mrs Stephanie Costar am from USA my late husband is an
indigence from Benin Republic i'm 65 years old and i'm very sick and
diagnosed for cancer about 3 years ago, Right now my doctor has
informed me that I may not live for more than two months and i have
decided to donate what i have to charity through you. You may be
wondering why I chose you,But I selected you after I prayed over it. I
inherited a total sum of $15 million dollars from my late husband.The
fund is deposited with Security Company for safe keeping here in
Benin. My late husband was a very rich man who used to work with shall
Oil Company in Benin Republi and I inherited all his wealth after his
death.
So I decided to divide part of this wealth to contribute to the
development of the orphanage homes and less privileges here in Benin
and other part of the world. I am willing to donate the sum of $5
million dollars to you for the less privileges and orphanage homes in
your country as i don't have any child to inherit the fund when am no
more alive, you will take 20% of this fund for your effort and share
the rest to orphans, less privileged ones and the widows if your
interested get back to me and i will give you the contact of the
Security Company and in-trust them to transfer the fund into your
private account that is if you assure me that you will act accordingly
as I Stated herein.
My regards
Mrs Stephanie Costar
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Anti-fraud resources:
