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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- 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.
- b.esq@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Angelina Prentice <"angeli."@galaxy.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Attorney Carr <b.esq@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017 23:58:36 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Last Will & Testament
Hello how do you do? My name is Angelina Prentice. I am messaging you from peace House Hospice 1000-1 Inokuchi, Nakai-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Japan, where I have been since November of 2016. I has stage five Parkinson Disease (PD) and my family who brought me here have abandoned me.
I have own poultry farm and animal processing plant business in Africa when I was health and my business grossed over fifteen million dollars before I was forced to leave due to my health. I want to donate the money that is left in my business account to you because I want you to assist other peoples in need. The balance on the account is twelve million two hundred thousand dollars and I want you to get the money. My only wish is that you donate any amount of money to this hospice home immediately you receive the money. I have documented every detail that will be needed and my lawyer (Ronald Carr) is the person in charge who will assist you. Please send him email to b.esq@yahoo.com and let him know that I have messaged you. I trust him to help you and please give him your trust because he is very capable. All your emails will be to him because I am not going to make it and I want to stop suffering. I want to be discontinue on life support. I hope that my wishes will be accomplished through you. I pray the Lord guide you.
Yours,
Angelina
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