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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a orphan 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.
- prisca.gros@email.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Prisca Gross <racoker@mofed.gov.sl>
Reply-To: prisca.gros@email.com
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:43:06 +0000
Subject:
Hello,
My name is Prisca Gross. I have a business proposal for you. I am
seeking for your partnership and coperation to transfer and invest Ten
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10.500,000.00) in your base.
I am the daughter of the late Chief Thomas Gross. My father was a
businessman and financial investor before he was assassinated during
his business trip. Though his sudden death was linked or rather
suspected to have been masterminded by my uncle who travelled with him
at that time.
After my late father's burial, my late father's lawyer secretly called
me in his office and handed over to me all my late father's documents
which proves that my late father deposited a sum of Ten Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10.500,000.00) in a bank. I am seeking for
your partnership and coperation to transfer and invest the money in
your base.
If you are interested, please contact me immediately in my private
email for more details. E-mail: prisca.gros@email.com
Thanks
Prisca
Thank you and GOD BLESS YOU
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Anti-fraud resources:
