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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS MITCHEL BAKER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbbj@ymail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:28:58 -0000
Subject: My Dearest one
My Dearest one,
I am MRS MITCHEL BAKER from Rep. Benin. I was married to Daniel A Baker the MD Sonacorp Oil Benin Sarl, a seasoned contractor In West African Region. Before he died in the year 2004. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a Brief illness. After his Death I decided not tore-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of $4.6 Million USD in an international Bank.
My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Three months Due to cancer problem.Having known my condition I decided to donate these funds to better the lives of the less privileged. I need honest and trust worthy individual that will utilize this Money in accordance With my instructions want the funds to be used in funding religious Organizations, Orphanages and less privileged propagating the word of God.
I took this decision because I don't have any child That will inherit this money and my husband relatives are very unkind to Me and I don't Want my husbands hard-earned money to be misused. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I Am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the Lord will fight my course and I shall hold my peace.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the Contact of my Barrister who will assist you legally. For legitimacy, I will also Issue you the Deposit Certificate that will empower you as the original-Beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray for me, any delay in your Reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose.
Thanks
Yours sincerely
MRS MITCHEL M. BAKER
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