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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 american dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Jocy Mady <jocymady@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: joycemady@hotmail.fr
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 22:46:54 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: MESSAGE
Dear ,
I am writing to you seeking your assistance to retrieve my fund from bank for investment. Frankly, I need your advice on a matter of great concern.
I have a fund Eight Million American Dollars (8MUSD) which was kept in bank but I am not the original depositor I inherited it from my late parents which by law I am now the rightful owner as next of kin and I believe that I have come to an age to process for the transfer of the fund from the bank and arrange for investment as you and I may desire. I believe your person has a reputation
such as this and I request your intervention to assist me in the timely resolution of this project. I feel obliged to contact you for your assistance and hope for your guidance
as to the content thereof. I would be most grateful for your thoughts and advice on this most sensitive matter.
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss this. I thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Mady Joyce.
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Anti-fraud resources:
