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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 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.
- mrsleenmary529@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "I am Dr Mary Leen from the United States of America." <unlaisons.office@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsleenmary529@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2021 23:43:09 -0700
Subject: Hello Dear Friend
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Dear Friend
I am Dr Mary Leen from the United States of America. I am 38 years
old. I am a widow with no child. I work with the United Nations
Refugee agency in Afghanistan since November 9th 2020 and my vacation
will be on the 20th of September. I am contacting you to see if you
will help me receive my late husband 6.5M dollars deposited in a
security company in Malaysia for our Mutual interest. I received an
email from the company two days ago that they have increased the tax
that i will pay over the deposit which is a lot of money and i do not
want to renew the contract because I have only 8 days to respond. I
want to know if you will help me receive the fund and if possible
investing it in your country for our mutual benefit. I will come to
your country during my vacation to meet with you.
Thank you and my best regards
Dr Mary Leen
E-mail:- mrsleenmary529@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
