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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:
- 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "SHEIKHA HESSA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sheihakuwait@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2017 18:04:11 -0400
Subject: Re: VERY URGENT
Hi
I know this may come as surprise and sceptic to you. Since we do not know each other, but i am contacting you with trust and faith that you will never
fail me .My name is Mrs.Sheikha Hessa Mohamed a nationality of Kuwait. I am married to late Dr. Mohamed Malik who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year Octorber 2003.
We were married for 20 years without 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 $30 Million (Thirty Million Dollars) 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 a individual That will utilize this money for Charity work.
Remain blessed
Yours Mrs.Sheikha Hessa
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Anti-fraud resources:
