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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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Stephanie Adams <web.anythroste@yahoo.co.th>
Reply-To: Stephanie Adams <stephanie.adams86@yahoo.com.co>
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:08:26 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: From Miss Stephanie Adams.
>From Miss Stephanie Adams.
I am Miss. Stephanie Adams 17 years
old girl. the only Daughter Of Late Mr. And Mrs. Andrew A. from Ghana I
am an Orphan being that I lost my Parents. My Father was a serving
director of the Agricultural board in Ghana here during His days.
My
Father was poisoned to death by his Family members because of His
wealth. Before his death He deposited the sum ($12.5 Million USD
Dollars) In the Financial Company here in my country. This fund he
intended to buy a cocoa processing machine before His death.
I
want you to help me for to retrieve this fund from the Financial Company
and transfer it to your account there in your country or any safer
place outside my country as you will be the beneficiary and recipient of
the fund.
Dear my plan is to come over to Your
country and further my education after the transfer, While You will be
the person to do investment in any Good investment or business there in
Your country.
This is my reason for writing to you. And l am
willing to offer you 15% out of the total fund as you help me receive
this fund in your account,
Waiting to hear from You as soon as You read my message.
My Best Regards
Miss Stephanie Adams
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Anti-fraud resources:
