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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 "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.
- samanfamily1@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Saman" <ccarverbrowncorp@gci.net>
Reply-To: samanfamily3@aol.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:41:51 -0800 (AKDT)
Subject: Trust
From Mrs.Saman
I am the above named person, now undergoing medical treatment. I was
married to late Engr M.N Saman who worked With the Embassy for Nine
years.
We were married for eleven years without a child. My late husband Engr
M.N Saman died on the 24th of April 2006 after a brief illness that
lasted for only four Days. I decided not to re-marry or get a Child
outside my matrimonial home.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $22 with one
Finance house in London.I have been in the hospital for eight months
suffering from cancer. The 1st surgery operation has been conducted
.Recently my Doctor told me that I may die any time any day because of
my cancer sickness.
Having known my condition I decided to donate the $22 my late husband
deposited with a finance house in London to you a good organization that
will utilize this fund very well by helping the less privilege.
Please respond to this email samanfamily1@aol.com
Mrs. Saman
samanfamily1@aol.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
