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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- 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.
- sburns333@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "REV.MRS SARAH BURNS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sburns333@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2015 09:28:24 -0700
Subject: FINALLY GOD HAS REMEMBERED YOU.
DEAR FRIEND,
BE INFORMED THAT YOUR FUND OF $15.5M IS NOW READY TO BE SENT TO YOU BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT THROUGH A BANK DRAFT WHICH YOU WILL RECEIVE AND PAY IT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH 72 HOURS AFTER YOU PAY IN THE DRAFT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT OVER THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY THE FUND WILL BE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE WITHDRAWAL OF ANY AMOUNT YOU WISHED.
REPLY AND RECONFIRM YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS WHERE WE WILL SEND THE DRAFT TO AS WELL WE WANT YOU TO CHOSE BETWEEN DHL AND UPS THE ONE THAT IS CLOSE TO YOU THAT YOU ADVISE US TO USE IN SENDING YOU THE DRAFT. THE EARLIER YOU RESPOND TO THIS MAIL THE BETTER FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THIS FUND NOW THAT IS READY.
REGARDS,
REV.MRS SARAH BURNS.
DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES,
REPLY TO: sburns333@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
