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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Catherine James <catherinejames4444@gmail.com>
Reply-To: catherinejames4444@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2013 17:38:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings From Sister Catherine James,
Dearest in Christ.
With due Respect and Humanity I write to donate/ hand over this fund to you for orphanages and widows / less privileged and propagate the gospelof God(US$6.3M)deposited in a security company in Cote d'Ivoire by my late husband and.
I, Mrs Catherine James 68 years old without a child married to late Dr Peter James from Israel who worked with Oil company (PETROCI)Cote d'Ivoire before he died in the year 2009 after a Cardiac Arteries Operation, presently my doctor said I will not last for four months due to Colon Cancer, you are requested to send your full name,telephone and fax number with your resident address for documentation process to transfer the fund to you without any hindrance to accomplishour vow to God. Always pray for me
daily.
Thanks and waiting to read from you soonest.
Remain Bless
Mrs Catherine James.
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Anti-fraud resources:
