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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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- sarahhendrick67@googlemail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sarah Hendrick" <info@sarah.org>
Reply-To: sarahhendrick67@googlemail.com
Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 14:20:07 -0300 (UYT)
Subject:
I am Mrs. Sarah Hendrick a dying widow with cancer, the wife of late
Mr.Robert Hendrick. both of us are citizens of the united state of
America. I have a charitable offer of Fourteen Million Pounds that has
been deposited with a Bank in Europe. It is my last wish to see this money
distributed to charity organizations, churches and NGO. I want a person
that is God-fearing who will use this money to fund churches, orphanages
and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God
is maintained
I await your quick response to my mail box
(sarahhendrick67@googlemail.com) as this is my last wish to see this funds
transferred to you before my Death.
Your Sister in Christ,
Mrs.Sarah Hendrick
Email:sarahhendrick67@googlemail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
