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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- ltgenjamesdeze9@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Lt Gen Tolu Williams <ltgenjamesdeze@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: Lt Gen Tolu Williams <ltgenjamesdeze9@rocketmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 20:21:32 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: 25-12-2014 WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?????
 DEAR BENEFICIARY,
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? I SEND A REPORT TO NIGERIA GOVERNMENT THIS MORNING, INDICATING YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO CLAIM YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $9.5 MILLION WHICH HAS BEEN PROVED IN YOUR FAVOUR AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL FOR LONG. IT IS AS RESULT OF COMPLAINS AND COMPLICATION I RECEIVED FROM YOU CONTRACTORS/INHERITANCE BENEFICIARY REGARDING YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA THAT MADE ME TO HANDLE YOUR ATM CARD BY MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE GOD FEARING MIND TO RELEASE YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS IN MORE CONVENIENT MODE. BE INFORMED THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48 HOURS TO COMPLY WITH THIS INSTRUCTION I AM WARNING YOU FOR THE LAST TIME, IF YOU CONTINUE THIS DELAY, I WILL CANCEL YOUR ATM CARD.
FURTHERMORE,YOU ARE ADVISED TO FILL THE BELOW INFORMATION AND GET BACK TO ME FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM CARD TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS WITHOUT ANY DELAY
YOUR FULL NAME...........
YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS.......
YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER........
YOUR OFFICE ID CARD..........
ANY OTHER OFFICE OR PERSON COUNT ME OFF I AM NOT A PARTY TO THAT. A WORLD IS ENOUGH FOR A WISE. GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY THROUGH THIS E-MAIL: ltgenjamesdeze9@rocketmail.com
REGARDS.
LT GEN TOLU WILLIAMS.
CHAIRMAN
ltgenjamesdeze9@rocketmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
