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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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Aya Fuji" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsaya@inbox.lv>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:55:47 -0800
Subject: Read and reply me
I am a dying woman who decided to donate what I have to you / churches / motherless babies / less Privileged / widows.I was diagnosed with cancer 2
years ago and also has a hearing impairment that led me to many hospitals but not managed to find any cure. I decided to contact someone because I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my
deceased husband for good work of God. I decided to contact a foreign person (you), because I had already invested so much in charity here in my
home country, but always end up in the hands of corrupt officials.
I have already contacted a Health Worker here, His name is Mr. Pavel,He is a Member of the United Nation Red Cross. They will be travelling out of
Japan. I have already made contact with my bank manager whom also double as a manager of finance company to get all arrangements done and package it as
a family treasure. He will deliver the Box to you directly in the country where you Live and hand it over to you. He will meet you face to face. The
amount is 4.5 Million Us Dollars. Once you accept to help and are willing to use it for the purpose of what i want you to use it for, I will inform
him that i have gotten a partner.
I told him I am looking for a partner.. they will be leaving the hospital on Next Week.. so if you are willing.. He will fly to your country and
deliver the Box to you. My life is almost over and i don't want to lose it to corrupt bank officials.. It is better i use to help the poor
Mrs Aya Fuji from Japan
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Anti-fraud resources:
