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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.
- 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.
- bensonmaria783@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Benson" <peterj930@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: bensonmaria783@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 11:51:57 -0800
Subject: THINK ABOUT IT VERY WELL.
Dear Friend ,
How Family and Happy New Year?
Am very glad to write you today and also interested to detail you more
upon your kind and urgent compliance to this IMPORTANT EPISTLE.
But before we proceed further,let me make this very clear to you,none
of those OFFICIALS of GOVERNMENT reaching you from various places
especially from Africa will help you as far as your fund payment is
concern.
We had clearly investigated all outstanding payments especially
Contract Inheritance and Lottery and can now understand the truth.
The Investigation carried out recently fully indicated that many
Foreign Beneficiaries had earlier spent much money for taxes revenues
without getting their payments.
Those FAKE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS cannot and can never ever tell you the
truth because none is genuine and legal but always telling lies to
EXTORT MONEY from Foreign Beneficiaries using the real names of
Government Officials.So stop further communication with them if you
still want to receive your overdue fund.
TRUTH IS VERY BITTER BUT MUST BE TOLD BUT FOR THOSE TRULY AND
SINCERELY DESERVE IT.I OWE YOU NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.MORE DETAILS
SHALL BE FORWARDED TO YOU REGARDING YOUR FUND PAYMENT.
Yours Faithfully, E-mail/ bensonmaria783@gmail.com
Mrs.Benson from Ghana.
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Anti-fraud resources:
