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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:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Suzara Maling Wan <mrs.nicole777@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.suzarawanmaling@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:52:28 +0900
Subject: Mrs Suzara Maling Wan
Dear Beloved,
I am Mrs Suzara I am from (Philippine) but based in West Africa
Burkina Faso since eight years ago as a business woman dealing with
gold exportation, I have a dream and desire of building an orphanage
home in your country, but presently my health condition we not allow
me to carry out the project my self, as my doctor has already told me
that I have just few period of time to leave because of my ovarian
cancer disease.
I have $4.5 Million US Dollars at (ECO BANK PLC) here in Burkina Faso
and I have decided to wile the money to your name and instruct the
bank to transfer the money to you for you to use it to execute the
orphanage home project in my name in your country as it has ever been
my desire to put down such fandation to help people that are in needs
to the Glory of GOD.
With kind Regards,
Mrs Suzara Maling Wan
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Anti-fraud resources:
