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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.
- 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.
- williamsjackson905@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Winifred Jackson" <castora@castora.nl>
Reply-To: williamsjackson905@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2017 08:41:55 -0400
Subject: HELLO
Hello
I am Mrs. Winifred Jackson the wife of late Mr. Charles Jackson my Husband worked with the Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) for twenty years before he died in the year 2010. We were married for ten years without a child. My husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only two weeks.
Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive we deposited the sum of $5.5 Million with a Security/saving company. The Security/saving company and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to sign for the release of this fund or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I cannot come over.
Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. My doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see this money distributed to charity organizations. Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them and that is why i need your assistance
I am seeking for any honest person who will get the Funds from the Security/saving company. And will use this money to fund the poor, orphanages, widows and charity organizations.
Due to the state of my health. I cannot communicate by phone because my illness have affected my throat. I prefer to communicate by email. I will appreciate if you contact me with this email: williamsjackson905@gmail.com so that i can send you a letter and explain further.
I anticipate your quick reply
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Winifred Jackson
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Anti-fraud resources:
