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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 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 "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Olga Macline" <olgamacline@gmail.com>
Reply-To: olgamaclina@gmx.fr
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 20:07:45 +0200
Subject: GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
My greetings dear.
I am Madam Olga Macline, a widow, i am married to late Mr. Macline Dan
Juan for 13 years without a Child. My husband is a French while i am from
Democratic Republic of Congo. My husband was a Cocoa marchant who export
cocoa from Ivory Coast to all the European nations before he died in the
year of 2011.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (US$5.5 Million
Dollars) in a bank here in Ivory Coast for our future children without
knowing we will never have any before his dead, Presently this money is
still with the bank and now i am very sick which my doctor's report says i
will not last more than 2 months because I am suffering from cancer of the
lungs, including the fibroid and tumor which denied me having children
with my husband before his death. I have been taking all sorts of
treatments on this sickness but no solution yet.
Now i have decided to donate this money on Charity purpose such as
Orphanages Homes, the widows and to those who has been affected by
Earthquake ETC and i have chosen you to handle this work for the sake of
humanity and our god since my health status is not permitting to do
anything at the morment. If you can give me your word that you will help
to donate this fund as i have stated above then i will instruct the bank
to transfer the money to your account.
After transferring the money to your account I permit you to use 30% of
the money as your reward for volunteering yourself then 70% for this
Charity organization Purpose.
I wait your responds on my private email: olgamaclina@gmx.fr
Madam Olga Macline.
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Anti-fraud resources:
