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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Priness Leez <leezmarttin@e1.ru>
Reply-To: lee.marttin@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 10:58:49 -0600
Subject: Re!Good Afternoon Dear.
--
Dear Friend
My contacting you is because of my upcoming blood cancer surgery
operation i will be undergoing in few days.
I have a son i want you to guide in an investment project in your
country and also wants to establish through you a charity foundation as
a thanks giving to God for my son.
I took this decision because my husband a Venezuela who just pass away
proposed to open cocoa and farming industry here in my country but that
did not materialized before his dead.
The US$18,000.000.00 he proposed for the project is what i want part to
go to motherless baby home, supporting destitute aged people and part
goes for investment through you as my son`s investor.
I have no relative to look after my son if anything should happen to me
my son life will be in danger because my only relatives died during the
war.
In my next mail i will give you all the relevant information that will
authorize the transfer of ownership in your name as my duly assigned
representative and investor to my son.
I look forward hearing from you.
Priness Leez
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Anti-fraud resources:
