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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
- mrs.hawaindina4u2016@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Hawain Dina" <traditionalclothingccompany@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.hawaindina4u2016@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:24:50 +0100
Subject: This is my reason for contacting you today.
Attention:My Dear Friend,
My name is Mrs. Dina Hawain. I was married to Mr. Hawain Shesho who
worked with the Iraqi embassy in Syria and also a Gold exporter. My
husband died in the year 2013 after we were married for eleven years
without a child,My late husband maintained a deposit in a Security
Company based in Europe.
I am terminally ill and bedridden. I need your help to retrieve this
deposit and use the proceeds for charity works and propagation of
peace around the world since I don't bear any child that will inherit
this outstanding deposit.This is my reason for contacting you today.
I wait urgently your response to my email ID for more
details:(mrs.hawaindina4u2016@gmail.com)
May God Bless You
Mrs Dina Hawain.
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Anti-fraud resources:
