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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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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 "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Celin Jonah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrszanfar@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 14:27:56 +0200
Subject: From Mrs Celin Jonah.
>From Mrs Celin Jonah.
Dearest One, I am Mrs Celin Jonah from Kuwait but now undergoing medical treatment in Accra the Capital city of Ghana.
I am married to late Mr Jonah Zanfar who worked with Kuwait Embassy in Ghana for Eleven years before he died in the year 2008 after a brief illness that lasted for only Ten days.
We were married for Eighteen years without a child and after the death of my late husband i vowed to use our wealth for the down trodden and the less privileged in our society.
When my late husband was alive he kept the sum of $4.800 000 (Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
Haven known the condition of my health i decided to donate this fund to you for charity works only.
As soon as you send me your information's i will give you the contact where the fund is being kept for release to you immediately.
1. Your Names.............................................................
2. Home Address..........................................................
3. Phone Number..........................................................
Thanks and be Bless.
Mrs Celin Jonah.
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Anti-fraud resources:
