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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)
- "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 next of kin 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.
- frankdave778@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Frank Dave" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankdave778@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2018 11:34:47 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
How are you doing?
I was the personal attorney of the deceased Mr. Wilson Allen who
worked as an oil contractor and kept $ 20 million dollars in the
Security Company until his death in a car accident along with his
entire family . He was an orphan and grew up in an orphanage home and
had no living relatives here.
However, I am an honest and sincere person and is sorry for the
invasion of your privacy without permission. I would like to ask for
your cooperation so I that I can introduce you to the Security Company
as a successor to the money belonging to deceased Mr. Wilson Allen,
which he kept in the Security Company.
This is possible because I have all the necessary document of proof,
and will personally make the required arrangements in accordance with
the law so that the money can be paid to you as heir and recipient
beneficiary.
You must reply me through my private e -mail for more information:
(frankdave778@gmail.com)
Sincerely,
Mr. Frank Dave (Esq.)
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Anti-fraud resources:
