419 scam: "Mrs. Sheila Johnson" <echo@mail.cityocean.net> Hello,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "advocaatvancurtis@aol.nl" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +31647285270 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sheila Johnson" <echo@mail.cityocean.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: advocaatvancurtis@aol.nl
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:48:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello,

Hello,

My name is Mrs. Sheila Johnson. I am a dying woman who had decided to
donate what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer
about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left
me everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from
what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of
God, rather than allowing my relatives to use my husband's hard earned
funds ungodly. I have asked God to forgive me all my sins and I believe he
has because He is a merciful God.

I will be going in for an operation, and I pray that I survive the
operation. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000.00. (Ten
million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the
lord, and to help the motherless, less privileged and also for the
assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls,
due to the fact that my relatives are around me and I have been restricted
by my doctor from taking telephone calls because I deserve all the rest I
can get.Presently,I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILL
this fund to you. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you
abundantly and please use the funds well and always extend the good work
to others.

Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email address
(advocaatvancurtis@aol.nl)
or you can call his private Lin: Tel:+31-647-285-270.If you are interested in
carrying out this task, so that he can arrange the release of the funds
($10,500,000.00) to you. My lawyer's name is Advocate Curtis Van.
I know I have never met you but my mind tells me to do this, and I hope
you act sincerely.

NB:I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is complished,As I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last
wish, due to the fact that I do not want relatives or family members
standing in the way of my last wish.

Thank you and God bless you. Mrs. Sheila Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam