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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- jmjmashego2@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.JOSEPH MASHEGO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <juliousmshb81@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 22:47:29 +0200
Subject: RE
I am Mr.Joseph Mashego. Auditor/ a staff in one of the leading bank in South Africa. During the annual year account auditing I discovered an abandoned large sum of money (US$14.7M) belonging to one of our late Foreign Customer.
The owner of this account was involve in ghastly car accident here in South Africa.I am writing you to seek for your Sincere Co-operation to present you as the heir to the available cash since he does not specify anyone as his next of kin on our record. Due to the sensitivity of this matter i have intentionally left out some final details.
If you are keen to help me please state your full names Address, Age, telephone and fax number/occupation to enable me to make you the next of kin to the available funds and further details. Please get back to me.
Email:jmjmashego2@gmail.com
MR.JOSEPH MASHEGO
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Anti-fraud resources:
