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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: Ms Michelle Marcel <am4758966@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: family4441@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 20:26:18 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Ms Michelle Marcel.....
Ms Michelle Marcel.....
Quite frankly, I know it may have
sounded pretty strange for you on why I chose to contact you who are a
complete stranger to me and I must tell you this, I contacted you for
the simple reason that we do not know each other. It would be very
difficult for me to contact anybody here who knows me for this purpose
as I may stand the risk and chance of being cheated of my inheritance
because the person would have known my weaknesses. I may even lose my
life that is why I decided to contact you a complete stranger.
My name is Ms Michelle Marcel the
only child of my parent. During the civil and political crisis in our
country, my parents were poisoned by heartless people. Fortunately for
me, I was in the school when this tragedy took place to my 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 family.
Right now I am still here in country 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
financial institution the sum of money, $3.2Million USD .But
unfortunately he did not complete the transaction before he sudden
died. I have mapped out 25% out of the total money for your help and
assistances 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 with to meet you and spend
the rest of my live in your country. I wish to invest the money into
estate business and other good business you may propose. I promise to
greatly compensate you for any assistance you may offer me. I do not
know how you may feel about this but I want you to take this very
serious and confidential.
Please contact me with this email address:
Best wishes
Michelle Marcel
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