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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)
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- miss_nadiasoumaie@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: soumaie
Reply-To: <miss_nadiasoumaie@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 15:42:38 +0530
Subject: Help
Dear Friend
My name is Nadia soumaie,am the only daughter of
late Bongo soumaie the former Libyan Minister of mineral
resources who was Slain-ed by the rebel forces in the ongoing
political tumoil in our country. I am an 21 years old,under-graduate
Medical student of misurata university,libya.
I managed to escape into government re refugee camp in Ghana
through the help of some Red Cross Personnel's working in our
country.I have an estates of US$9.7M only, in cash that my father left
for me in a security company here. The fund was proceeds from the sale
of crude oil. Now that he is no more, I want to transfer the ownership
of the fund to you for safe keeping and relocate to your country to
complete my medical course and permanently reside there.
Please contact me with this Email: miss_nadiasoumaie@hotmail.com if you can be honest with me and assist me.
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Anti-fraud resources:
