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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- rev.morenikeadams7@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- adams is as follows. rev. morenike adams email: rev.morenikeadams7@gmail.com morenike.adams8@gmail.com contact rev. morenike adams at (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. ANGEL SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rev.morenikeadams2010@mail.md>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:01:55 -0500
Subject: INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT VALUE SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
Dear Friend,
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using
this opportunity to thank you for Your great effort to our unfinished transfer of your winning cheque to you as a winner, due
to logistic reasons or the other best known to you.
But I Want to inform you that I have successfully cleared the cheque to someone else account who was capable of assisting
me in this great venture.
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate
you and show my gratitude to you With the sum of Six Million United State of America Dollars I have authorized Rev.
Morenike Adams where I deposited my money to issue you International certified bank draft cashable at your bank.
My dear friend I will like you to contact Rev. Morenike Adams for the collection of this international Certified bank draft.
The name and contact address of Rev. Morenike Adams is as follows.
Rev. Morenike Adams
Email: rev.morenikeadams7@gmail.com
morenike.adams8@gmail.com
Contact Rev. Morenike Adams at the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which I and my new partner
are having at hand In London.
Finally remember that I have forwarded instruction to the Rev. Morenike Adams on your behalf to send the bank draft cheque of
Six Million United State Of America Dollars to you as soon as you contact him without delay.
Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is From the bottom of my heart.
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. ANGEL SMITH.
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Anti-fraud resources:
