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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- 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.
- mrsjoy.edet@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS JOY EDET <webmaster@AFHSR.MED.SA>
Reply-To: <mrsjoy.edet@yahoo.es>
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:54:12 -0400
Subject: RE:STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
ATTN: BENEFICIARY
GOOD-DAY TO YOU. PLEASE I AM SORRY IF I DO BULGE INTO YOUR CONVENIENCE BUT THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF THE SITUATION I DISCOVERED YESTERDAY MORNING WHILE DISCHARGING MY OFFICIAL DUTIES WITH THE PRESIDENCY.
FIRST, MY NAME IS DR. MRS. JOY EDET, PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT SENATOR PIUS AYIM PIUS. WELL WHILE I CAME TO THE OFFICE YESTERDAY MORNING MY BOSS AS I MENTIONED BEFORE DIRECTED ME TO BURN DOWN ALL THE FILES IN HIS CUPBOARD AND DUST THE ENTIRE OFFICE.
WHILE I WAS DOING THIS IT OCCURRED IN MY MIND TO GO THROUGH ONE OF THE FILES BEFORE BURNING THEM SO WHILE GOING THROUGH IT I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS RELATED TO A CERTAIN PAYMENT OF ABOUT $5.5 MILLION DOLLARS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROGRAMMED IN AN AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE POPULARLY KNOWN AS ATM CARD AND IT WAS DESIGNED IN YOUR NAME AND FAVOR.
I QUICKLY CONSULTED MY FELLOW STAFF IN THE OFFICE WHO WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT AND MY BOSS AND HE TOLD ME IN CONFIDENCE THAT THE PRESIDENT DIRECTED HIS SECRETARY SENATOR AYIM TO DESTROY THOSE FILES SO THAT THEY CAN DIVERT THE FUNDS INTO THERE OWN DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT ABROAD WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FEDERATION AS WHEN THE FILES ARE BEEN SEARCHED FOR AND COULDN'T SEE THEM, IT WILL BE DECLARED THAT THE PAYMENT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE BENEFICIARY AS THERE WILL BE NO FILES TO GET THIS CONFIRMED.
PLEASE DO KNOW THAT THIS VITAL INFORMATION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE USE OF IT FINE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO GET BACK TO ME AND I SHALL DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CARD AND THE FUNDS CONFIDENTIALLY BUT IF YOU DON'T NEED IT PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION TO ANYONE AS MY LIFE AND JOB WILL BE AT STAKE FOR I KNOW MY COUNTRY AND THE LEADERS THEY DON'T MIND TO ROT ME IN JAIL.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE GIVEN OUT TO YOU A VITAL INFORMATION THAT WILL LEAD YOU TO GREATER HEIGHTS IN FUTURE. LIKE I REQUESTED BEFORE, PLEASE LET THIS MATTER REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT YOUR FILE AND CARD ARE RIGHT NOW SAFE IN MY HOUSE AS I WILL KEEP IT FOR YOU UNTIL YOU
GET BACK TO ME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
MRS.JOY EDET
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
TO THE SECRETARY TO
THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
EMAIL:mrsjoy.edet@yahoo.es
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Anti-fraud resources:
