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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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- jessicabecker7410@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Jessica Becker <benaitebest@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jessicabecker7410@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2021 04:23:59 -0700
Subject: My dear friend,
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My dear friend,
I know that this mail will surprise you but I implore you to take a
little of your time to go through it for the decision you take will go
a long way in determining my future.
I am Mrs Jessica Becker, from Indonesia. I was married to former
British ambassador to Burkina Faso for nine years before he died in
2004. We had one child who died earlier before his late father.
My late husband deposited the sum of $5.5MUSD (Five million five
hundred thousand dollars) in a bank when alive. Recently, my doctor
told me that my days are numbered and I would not last 4 months due to
Breast cancer and kidney failure problem. Having known my condition I
decided to donate this fund to you for charity. I want you to use this
fund for orphanages,widows and the needy in the society.
I am not afraid of death because I lived a fulfilled live. I do not
need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health.
Hope to receiving your response.
Contact email: jessicabecker7410@gmail.com
Thanks and remain blessed.
Yours sister.
Mrs Jessica Becker
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Anti-fraud resources:
