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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 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)
- "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.
- 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.
- vkimthomson@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Victoria Kim Thomson <anny1966@voila.fr>
Reply-To: victoriakimthomson@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 14:44:26 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Miss. Victoria Kim Thomson
>From Miss. Victoria Kim Thomson
Compliments of the Season.
I am Victoria Kim Thomson  from United States, I need you to help me in the claims of my inheritance deposit ($2.8million dollars) which was deposited in a private  security firm in Ivory Coast by my late father using  my name as the next of kin, presently I am hiding for my safety in Ivory Coast were my inheritance  treasure was deposited , because of political problems  I want to relocate to your country  to finish my masters degree and also investment of the inheritance money while you will be the manager of the investment as I don’t know anybody in your country,I will offer you 30% of the total money and also 5% for any expenses that you may incur in the process of the claims, all the deposit documents of this inheritance will be send across to you as soon as I hear from you. I will want you to send me copy of  your identity or picture as well  as you direct contact telephone number as for me to know who am dealing with.
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I will be waiting for your URGENT response.
Yours Sincerely
Victoria Kim Thomson, E-mail; vkimthomson@yahoo.fr
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Anti-fraud resources:
