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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 british pounds" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Aisyah Woodsberg" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.aisyahwoodsberg22@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2013 09:06:04 -0400
Subject: I'm Mrs. Aisyah. How are you doing?
Dearly Beloveth,
I am Mrs Aisyah a Singaporean nationality. I was married to Late Denis
Woodsberg of blessed memory who was an oil explorer in Brunei Darrusalem for
twelve years before he died in the year 2005. We were married for twelve
years without a child; he died after a brief illness that lasted for only
four days. Since his death I too have been battling with both Cancer and
fibroid problems.
When my late Husband was alive he deposited a substantial amount of money
worth GBP 4,300,000.00 Million British Pounds with a bank abroad which I
inherited and recently, my doctor told me that I have only 2 months to live
due to my ailment. having known my condition I decided to donate this funds
to a devoted God fearing personality that will utilize the funds basically
to the benefit of the less privileged ones since I have no next of kin to
inherit my estate funds.
May God be with you and your entire family as you reply to assist me.
Remain blessed.
Mrs Aisyah.
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Anti-fraud resources:
