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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: E robert <udanko1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: edith111e@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 27 May 2012 15:14:29 +0100 (BST)
Subject: MAIL
Beloved,
I hope this mail meet you in a very good condition.
I am writing this mail with tears and sorrow to seek for your assistance regards to my present situation.
Permit me to confide a confidential issue to you, hoping that you will not let me down.
My name is Edith Robert.
My father was a rich cocoa and gold merchant before his untimely death.
I lost my father from a bullet wound during the political crises in my country.
My mother died when I was two years.
My reason for contacting you is that I want to use you as a capable hand to stand as a beneficiary and my guardian to transfer my inheritance fund to your country for further investment.
Please, if you can honestly and confidentially help me to move this fund to your country and help me to invest it, kindly reply my mail to enable me to give you more details.
I am waiting for your urgent response.
My greetings
Edith Robert
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Anti-fraud resources:
