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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:
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Wand Smith" <philips.ltgeneralmamman699@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.wandsmith@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2022 13:39:07 +0100
Subject: FOR THE WORK OF CHARITY !!!
Dear Trusted one
I am Mrs. Wand Smith, a native of London, United Kingdom an aging
widow of 78 years old, i am suffering from a long time cancer illness
and i have some funds which i inherited from my late husband, the sum
of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds and I needed
a very honest and God fearing person that will use this fund for
charity purposes.
and I decided to contact you if you can handle this project sincerely
because of my present health situation, Kindly get back to me
immediately with the below details to enable me prepare a letter of
Authorization in your name so that the Co-Operative British Commercial
Bank London where i deposited my fund will proceed for the release of
my last wish to you.
(1) Your full names: ===
(2) Personal or official contact address: ====
(3) Home or Office phone#:==Cell phone#:===Fax#:===
(4) Your Age: ===
(5)Occupation: ===
(6)Marital status: ===
(7) Sex: ===
Awaiting your kind response while craving your appreciation of my predicament.
Yours in the Lord,
Mrs. Wand Smith
readmymindwithfaith1@rediff.com
Cancer Centre: Christie Hospital NHS Trust
Manchester North West England
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Anti-fraud resources:
