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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: Kebel Mamoffi <kk.mm8414@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Kebel Mamoffi <bel_koffi@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2014 06:38:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From. Mrs.Kebel Mamoffi
I am Mrs. Kebel Mamoffi  from  kuwait.I am married to Saint  Mamoffi . whom untill his death served as a staff in kuwait embassy for 9 years  before he died .We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.Â
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of  € 6 5,000 000 in a security company  for safe keeping. He deposited it as a family vaulaubes itmes. The security company does not know the content to be money. All they new was inside is gold and jewlleries. Presently,my Doctor  confirmed to me that I have colon  cancer . The one that disturbs me most is  stroke and the doctor told me that i have some weeks to live.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. With God all things are possible.As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact of the security company. I want you to always pray for me because of my ill health.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.Â
Yours in Christ,Â
Mrs.Kebel Mamoffi
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Anti-fraud resources:
