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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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- farizahamza12@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Fariza" <brazzoni@brakoe.de>
Reply-To: farizahamza12@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 05:21:28 +0100 (CET)
Subject: hi
Hello,
My name is Mrs. Fariza Hamza a nationality of Kuwait. I am married to late Dr. Mahmud Hamza who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year Octorber 2003. We were married for twenty years with a child. He died after a the illness that lasted for long four days. Before his death we were both a good Muslim. When my late husband was alive we deposited the sum of US$18, 300, 000.00 Million with one of good banks here in Cote d'Ivoire.
Presently, this money is still with the bank. I have been diagnose with Esophageal cancer , Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to my cancer Problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this Fund to individual That will utilize this money the way i want and because of my health the presence of my family relatives around me always. I don’t want any of my husband family relatives to receive this money.
With Allah all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the new beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray for me because the Allah is my shepherd. My happiness is that I live a life of a worthy muslim.Please do contact me on (farizahamza12@yahoo.com) for more details.
Remain blessed
Yours
Mrs. Fariza
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Anti-fraud resources:
