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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Beasley Yusi" <bea.yusi01@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: yusibeasl01@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 20:23:18 +0000
Subject: HELLO
--
Hello
My Name is Mrs.Beasley Yusi wife to Dr Christopher Yusi from Philippine,who
was the Deputy Secretary General of Bayan Muna party-list group in Southern
Tagalog Who was attacked and killed in our house on the 9th may 2010 from
your profile I believe in me that you ought to be a very honest person, I
need someone who would take for whom I am and as a life time partner, after
making claims of my deposited life Before my late husband was killed he
made total sum of ($21 Million Twenty One Million United State Dollars)
from the sales of gold and cocoa this money is deposited with a firm in
ABROAD.
My main purpose of sending you this mail is because of the way I believe I
can confide on you to assist me retrieve and invest this money for the
benefit of you and me. I hope that you can be trusted, that you will not
sit on this money when you claim it I will give you the contact of the
security company in ABROAD for you to contact them and give them your
address for the immediate shipment of the box today I have made up my mind
to give you 25% of the total money for your help, after you have secured
the box for me and my children's future.
Thanks for your comprehension and willingness to assist Contact me for more
details with my private email address
Await your urgent reply.
With Love,
Mrs.Beasely Yusi
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Anti-fraud resources:
