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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:
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- swabigroup@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Swabi Group of Company®" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <swabigroup@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 10:18:02 +0700
Subject: it's very urgent
Hello Dear
i got your contact on my search on the internet and i have finally decided to contact you, I am Mrs. Lisa Swabi; my spirit lead me to write you this email. I write you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart because my Doctor informed me that I will die in 3 weeks time due to my complicated health issues (CANCER)based on this,
I have the sum of (US$11 million United Stated Dollars) deposited in Finance company here and i need a very honest and God fearing person that can use these funds for God's work.I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money. I don't want a situation where this money will be used ungodly way. That is why I take this decision to transfer the said amount to you then you use it to help charity organizations and the orphanage homes. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.I will wait to hear from you if you can handle this task with honesty kindly reply me.
Contact me on this email address: swabigroup@gmail.com
Yours Sister in Christ,
Mrs.Lisa Swabi
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Anti-fraud resources:
