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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 us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22544886636 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: Mission Work <work.mission@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: Mission Work <wfred447@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2015 16:42:46 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Greetings from Fred Winner.
 Greetings from Fred Winner.My purpose contacting you today MIGHT be a great opportunity IF only you can be of help. First of all, I am sorry to reach you through this means which i guess would be more preferable to me due to personal reasons to me. Meanwhile, i purposely decided to entrust inherited fund of $5.2 Million US dollars from my late parent to you but would like you to confirm to me before informing the bank about you. Please kindly let me know your mind over this request. I hesitate to hear from you immediately as i wish to use this privilege to set my future. Kindly get back immediately with your complete information.Kindly reply to this address: wfred447@yahoo.comAnd call me on this number: +225 44886636Sincerely yours,Fred Winner Â
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Anti-fraud resources:
