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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:
- 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: laurenpat17@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 07:40:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT
Gloria is my name. I AM Currently in Mali Africa. I am seeking help to come back to your country to start a new life after i lost my husband in a plane crash. My husband being an Africa and a Minister in Mali, her family now accuse me of planning with the aircraft pilot to murder my husband.
Now my late husband's family members are pushing me away, saying i am no longer part of their family. Before my husband died, he left $34 million dollars in a bank which was meant for a hotel project in Dubai. His family members are not aware of this fund, i want to start a new life with this money and i need help i moving the fund after which i will relocate to your country.
I need us to use your company name or name to set up a new bank account after which we shall work with the bank where the fund is located to transfer the fund into your newly opened bank account. If i use my name in doing any transfer or changes in the fund, the family will confiscate the fund.
Let Us work together.
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Anti-fraud resources:
