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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:
- "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: Jaine <inforfile0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jaineraymond@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2022 04:07:07 +0800
Subject: Hello
My name is Jaine M. Jimmy, I am 22 years old Medical student in
University of Sudan. I am the only child of my father, Late Mr. Jimmy
Lemi Milla who was the rural development minister in Sudan I am actually
in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me relocate to
his/her country for a better life as I was advised by my late mother. I
have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe you will not
betray me. Meanwhile, 2 days later after my father's death my mother
gave me the information for a secret further credit deposit which they
made with a bank in Burkina-Faso. The deposit value is $4.5 Million US
Dollars only and I am presently in Burkina-Faso where my late parent's
made the deposit moreover, I have gone to the bank to confirm the
deposit and establish ownership and the bank confirmed my claim and told
me that the money was deposited on further credit and was moved to a
security bank in Europe for safe keeping as instructed by my late
father, please I need your assistance urgently to claim and move this
fund to your country for investment and also help me relocate to your
country. When my inheritance is properly secured you will have 20% of
the value for your assistance. Please contact me for more details
'Please help me'.
Regards
Jaine
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Anti-fraud resources:
