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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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- reee011@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Renee Towers <reneetowers3@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <bk6973265@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 20:21:59 +0100
Subject: Will you be my Guardian?
Hello ::
I am Renee Towers, 18 years old; I was raised up by a single mother who was a missionary before she died few months ago. My mother was rich ,she was also running a farm with a ranch with investment in stocks and shares before she died. I am passing through a lot offinancial problem due to her departure.She willed all her savings to me but she told the bank management that before the money will be released to me that I must get to the age of marriage or I will present a guardi an been a (Male /Female) to the bank, before they can release the fund worth $6.9 Million Dollars.
I saw your information on the net and I was touched in my heart to contact you as the right person to help me out with this. All I want from you is to stand as my guardian and get the money transferred into your account and then I will come over and start up a good business with you and complete my education. There is no risk in this transaction and it is strictly based on a written instruction signe by my mom for my safety.
Thank you for helping me out and I await your urgent response.
E-Mail Address:reee011@gmail.com
Renee Towers
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Anti-fraud resources:
