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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- jhnanthony24@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Salvation Christian" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jhnanthony24@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:02:57 -0300
Subject: Message From Salvation Christian
Salvation Christian
National Hospital, Abuja
Urgent Notification
Hello.
As a matter of urgency my patient Mr.Fletcher Anderson an American
citizen is at the point of death here in our hospital. He made an oral
WILL earlier this morning for his bond investment of £10.5million with
the Nigerian Stock Exchange to be transferred to you as humanitarian
assistance.
He is suffering from Nigeria Boko Haram bombs attack,and cancer of the
brain and heart related complications. For the past few hours he have
been in a state of coma
and medically he has no chance of survival. On receipt of your
acknowledgment I will link you up with our legal partners for transfer
of his legacy to you.
I am looking forward to your response.
Yours faithfully.
Dr. John Anthony
Reply to jhnanthony24@gmail.com
Salvation Christian National Hospital
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Anti-fraud resources:
