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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)
- "florawilfred2002@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Flora Wilfred" <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: florawilfred2002@yahoo.cn
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 04:13:38 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Re:
I am Mrs.Flora Wilfred,the wife of Mr.Wilfred Hamilton;both of us are
citizens of the USA.I know you will be surprised to read this email and
why I have to address myself to you at first,but I have no choice rather
to share my feelings and ideas with you because I felt you will be willing
and capable to help me conclude this project in good faith.My husband have
been working with the(Shell Chevron Texaco Company)in Russia before he
died in the year 2003,and my husband made a deposit of (8.9 Million
Pounds) with a Bank in Europe.And the management just wrote to me as the
beneficiary that our account has been dormant and if I cannot activate the
account the funds will be confiscated.Ever since the loss of my husband I
have not been able to comfort myself.Presently, I'm in a hospital in
Russia where I have been undergoing treatment for esophageal
cancer.Please, I need you to help me stand as beneficiary of the Funds
and help me disburse the money to the charity homes of which 20% will be
given to you.Please do contact me via email:florawilfred2002@yahoo.cn
Mrs. Flora Wilfred.
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Anti-fraud resources:
