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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:
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- janetobeid880@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS.JANET OBEID" <janetobeid234@gmail.com>
Reply-To: janetobeid880@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 10:59:32 -0400
Subject: VERY URGENT
Beloved.
I am Mrs. Janet Obeid; my spirit led me to write you this email. I write you
with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart because my Doctor
informed me that I will die in 3 weeks time due to my complicated health
issues (CANCER). Based on this, I want to will my money (10.5 million United
State Dollars) to a faithful and
God fearing person who will use it as I will instruct hence I contact you
because, having grown up in the orphanage, I have no family to take care of
it. The funds will be used to assist charity organizations, the orphanage
homes and help the people involved in any form of natural disaster. I will
wait to hear from you if you can handle this task with honesty.
Please, let this affair be between us until money is successfully
transferred
to your account, for safety reasons. God bless you. Reply me on this email:
janetobeid880@yahoo.co.jp
Mrs. Janet Obeid
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Anti-fraud resources:
