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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Lydia Ivan <lydieivan10@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Lydia Ivan <lydieivan101@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 07:51:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I Need Your Help Please.
I Need Your Help Please.
I'm Lydie Ivan. I am 17 years old, I lost my father two years ago during his kidney transplant/surgery. Before His death, my late father was having the sum of ($8.6 million US Dollars) and 100 KG of AU GOLD dust deposited in a Security
Company because my father was a gold dealer.
I am pleading with you to be my guardian and help me proclaim the said funds from the security company and invest it wisely for me while I will continue my education in your country because my late father always tells me that education is the key to success in life and it expands the human mind with knowledge so I want to learn as much as I can.
My dreams/aim is to study mechanical engineering when I grow up,
please kindly help me acquire my aim in life; please do everything humanly
possible to help me continue my education.
Help me get the funds out from the security company and invest it for me
Please kindly accept me like your biological daughter and i will really appreciate your help, respect you and follow your advice.
I will be waiting to hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Lydie Ivan
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Anti-fraud resources:
