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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 pounds" (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 "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Lady Jessica" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jessy4powell@live.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:50:02 -0000
Subject: Please Indicate Interest
Here writes Lady Jessica, suffering from cancerous ailment. I was
married to Sir Richard Powell an Englishman who is dead. My husband was
into private practice all his life before his death. Our life together as
man and wife lasted for three decades without child, My husband and I made
a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he
had passion for persons who can not help themselves due to physical
disability or financial predicament.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of £20 Million pounds
whichwere derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market
with his bank here in UK.
Presently, this money is still with the bank.Recently, my doctor told me
that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am
suffering from and the stroke in addition.With this that has befallen my
family and me I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to
use this gift to fund the upkeep of uplift the down-trodden and the
less-privilege sine i have no child and my husband relatives are bourgeois
and very wealthy persons and I do not want my husband's hard earned money
to be misused.I shall give you the contact of the bank in UK and a Letter
of Authority that will empower you as the original beneficiary. You can
contact me through my personal email address:: jessica4powell@sbcglobal.net
Best Regards,
Lady Jessica Powell
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Anti-fraud resources:
