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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.
- 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 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.
- personalemail20@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: disaelso@arcor.de
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 00:07:46 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?
I am Mrs. Maria Payne from England writing you this email hoping it will
meet you in good condition I am a deaf and i am suffering from a long time illness
which i feel has not give me the power to fulfill my heart desires for the
poor people which i such care for during my good healthy days. My dear i write you
this email to seek for your email help in receiving some of my cash which was
deposited in a security company ,this cash i want you to distribute to
motherless baby homes, widows, orphanage homes etc. If you will be willing
to do this on my behalf as a trustworthy Christian please reply me for more details
,when i get your response i will give you the contact of the security
company so that you can contact them for the release of the deposit to you, I will
tell you the amount when i get your response. Mrs. Maira Payne.
Kindly reply me through my alternative email: personalemail20@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
