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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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "gavin@tevve.com" (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.
- 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.
- +447024066808 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Faith Megan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gavin@tevve.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:05:42 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOUR MONEY
Special Greetings to you and it is with great joy to send you this mail. I am Faith Megan, a citizen of the United State of America and I once had a claim in United Kingdom and Nigeria but my entire attempts in getting my claim failed for some reasons and because I went through a wrong channel.
I was later introduced to an Attorney (Mr. Gavin Evan) who happened to be member of the Payment & Remittance Committee that was setup to ensure that claims are successfully paid. He was able to put me through necessary process to ensure that the paying release my $800,000 United State Dollars being the fee that has been agreed to be paid to beneficiaries who are yet to receive their claims.
He showed me a list of people who are yet to receive their payment where I got your email and decided to notify you to this regard and I felt it will be good if you can also contact him with the information below.
Gavin Evans
Email: gavin@tevve.com
Tel: +447024066808
Make sure you send him an email immediately so he can help you with the release of your $800,000 and I want to advice you stop dealing with the scammers and fraudsters who are claiming to help you get your money. They will only rob you off and leave with nothing but be rest assured that Mr. Gavin will do all in his capacity to ensure your money is release with little things to sort.
God bless you.
Mrs. Faith Megan
23, Moscovy Street,
Jacksoville FL, 32223
United States of America
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Anti-fraud resources:
