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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
- linagabriel701@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Lina Gabriel" <daddyfabooluz@gmail.com>
Reply-To: linagabriel701@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2023 12:11:33 +0000
Subject: Mrs.Lina Gabriel
Dearest in christ.
My name is Mrs.Lina Gabriel , a nationality of Frances. I am married
to late Mr. Gabriel who worked with Frances embassy in Lome Togo for
Ten years before he died in the year Octorber 2016. We were married
for twenty years with a child. He died after the illness that lasted
for four days. Before his death we were both born again
Christians.When my late husband was alive wedeposited the sum of $8
Million(U.S.Dollars) with one of good banks here in Togo.Presently,
this money is still with the bank. Recently my Doctor told me that I
would not last for the next three months due to my cancer problem.
Though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I
decided to donate this fund to charity or better still a Christian
individual contact me from more detals(l be waiting to read from you
( linagabriel701@gmail.com )
Remain blessed
Mrs.Lina Gabriel
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Anti-fraud resources:
