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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- success1am@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: happy john <smith11367@gmail.com>
Reply-To: happy1am2011@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:04:55 +0200
Subject: CERTIFICATE of ($4.5 million USD) in a finances company which i am
the next
CONTACT: address: success1am@yahoo.com
Name Chioma success
Dakar Senegal
West Africa
Hello Dear,
How are you today?, I know that this proposal might be a surprise to you but
do consider it as an emergency. I introducing my self as Miss success chioma
smith. 24years of age, from Rwanda Central Africa),now staying in refugee
senegal under the UN destitute home.
I am the only Daughter of late Dr. Chioma smith. the managing director of
Cold-well Gold and Diamond Company in (Yamoussoukro) Rwanda. But he was
killed along side with my mother during the political civil war and all his
properties was totally destroyed.
However after their death I managed to escape with a very important
documents DEPOSIT
CERTIFICATE of ($4.5 million USD) in a finances company which i am the next
of kin.
I seek a trust worthy foreign person to assist me achieve my late father
fund because of my situation here.I got your contact from this Google
search. I will be gladly to give you 25% of the total sum for your
assistance input. 5% for any expenses you made to see that this transfer
come up successfully. please it is very important you contact me immediately
on this my private email
address: success1am@yahoo.com
for further explanation on how we will proceed. Awaiting your immediate
response, Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards
Miss success chioma Smith
CONTACT: address: success1am@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
