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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "mrsitamonica111@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Madam. Ita Monica" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsitamonica112@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:49:43 -0700
Subject: I anticipate your urgent reply.
Madam. Ita Monica;
RE: PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD. I am the above named person from England. I was married to Dr. Steve Ita who worked with British embassy in Botswana for nine years before he died in the year 2008. We were married for fifteen years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of USD$15.2Million (Fifteen Million two hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with one
Finance/Security company in London England. Presently, this money is still with the Security Company. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not
last for the next seven months due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to
donate this fund to the individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a God fearing person to utilize this
fund for the ,Orphanages and Widows. Please do get back to me with your Full Name, Direct Telephone Number and your Physical Address
with Zip Code if you can help me so that I can direct you to my attorney
that will assist you,Via Email:{ mrsitamonica111@yahoo.cn }
Thanks
I anticipate your urgent reply.
Madam. Ita Monica
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Anti-fraud resources:
