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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:
- "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.
- felliciarbensson@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Kristalina Georgieva <melindallens@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kritaligeorgie@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:59:00 +0100
Subject: Good will for you.
Hello my dear,
I know this email will surprise you, but I beg you to take the time to
examine it, as the decision you make will be very important in determining
my future.
I am Mrs. Felicia Bensson, from the Netherlands. I was married to the
former Dutch ambassador to the Republic of Benin for nine years before he
died in 2014. We had a son who died before his late father.
My late husband deposited the amount of $15.5MUSD (fifteen million and five
hundred thousand dollars) in a bank when he was alive. My doctor recently
told me that my days are numbered and would not last 4 months due to heart
and kidney failure problems. Having known my condition, I decided to donate
this fund to charity. I want you to use this fund for orphanages, widows
and the needy in society and to help fight Coronavirus. I am not afraid of
death because I have lived a full life of a wealthy Christian. I don't need
any telephone communication in this regard because of my health.
I hope to receiving your reply soonest via my private email at (
felliciarbensson@aol.com).
Thank you and remain blessed.
Your sister.
Mrs. Felica Bensson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
