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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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "million 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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "100% hitch free" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: JESSICA WILLIAMS <j41460056@gmail.com>
Reply-To: j4146005@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2022 10:23:16 -0400
Subject:
--
Greetings
Please forgive me for approaching you through this media. I am Mother
Mrs.Jessica Williams (JP), 63 years. I am childless and I am suffering
from a pro-long critical cancer, my doctors confirmed I may not live a
few months from now as my ill health has defiled all forms of medical
treatment.
Since my days are numbered, I have decided willingly to fulfill my
long-time promise to donate you the sum ($12.000.000.00) million
dollars I inherited from my late husband Mr. Edward Williams foreign
bank account for charities work of God and there is no risk
involved;it is 100% hitch free & safe because it is my inheritance
from late
husband
If you will be interesting to assist in getting this deposit fund
transfer into your account for charity for the mutual benefit of
orphans and the less privileged project to fulfill my promise before I
die, please let me Know immediately and you will take 50% percent of
the total money for your effort and assistance while 50% of the money
will go to charity project. I will appreciate your utmost
confidentiality as I wait for your reply.
God Bless you,
Mrs. Mother Jessica Williams (JP),
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Anti-fraud resources:
