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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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 "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.
- maryjeanyveclugh@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary Tom Clough" <drtombodnard01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maryjeanyveclugh@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:09:25 +0800
Subject: Good morning Dear Replys!
Good morning to you dear Friend.
I am Mrs. Mary Tom Clough, 60 years old widow. I was married to the
late Thomas Clough, who worked with ExxonMobil in London for
Twenty-Six years before he died in the year 2009 after a brief illness
that lasted only five days. When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of US$12,500,000.00 in a bank. Following my health
(Bronchogenic Carcinomas), my Doctor told me that I may not live
longer than required due to my health condition. I am looking forward
to seeing someone who can use this money in charitable works. More
details will be made known to you upon your response.
Email back to me here ID: maryjeanyveclugh@gmail.com
May God Bless You
Yours sister in the Lord
Mrs. Mary T. Clough
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Anti-fraud resources:
