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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: jenny home <jenny10@villafresh.org>
Reply-To: jennny_200m@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 05:19:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HONEST SOMEONE
HONEST SOMEONE
During the civil and political crisis in our country, my parents together with my three sisters were poisoned by heartless elements. Fortunately for me, I was in school when this tragedy took place to our family. I was in coma for almost two weeks. But I thank the almighty God because I never knew that I could support the shock of losing almost my whole family. That is by the way. Right now I am still here in Cote d’Ivoire with but very unsafe for me. I’m living in great fear and bondage. I intend leaving this country as soon as possible but only one thing kept me back. My late father has deposited with one of the prime bank the sum of money, $5.2Million USD, for onward transfer to any bank abroad .But unfortunately he did not complete the transaction before he died. I have met with the bank director who has certified my claims to the money. I have all the documents concerns this money in the bank; I have mapped out 20% out of the total money for
your help and assistance because it looks stupid for me trying to confide in a total stranger I never met before. By instinct I am convinced you are an honest person and you have the capacity to handle this transaction with me. As soon as it is done, I will come over to meet you and spend the rest of my live in your country. I wish to invest the money into estate business etc. I promise to greatly compensate you for any assistance you may offer us. I do not know how you may feel about this but I want you to take this very serious and confidential. Down here, I am living in fear because enemies of my parents are hunting for me. Please let me know your mind concerning my proposal to you.
Miss Jenny
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Anti-fraud resources:
