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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447035916113 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- attorneynelsonanderson_lawoffice@yahoo.ca (Yahoo, Canada; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <revpaulsmith@frii.com>
Reply-To: <attorneynelsonanderson_lawoffice@yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:57:34 -0800
Subject: Notification of Bequest in your name,
Notification of Bequest in your name,
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the Estate of Engr. JAMES
RUDD i
hereby attempt to reach you again. I wish to notify you that late
James
Rudd made you a beneficiary to his will. He left the sum of Thirty
Three
Million five Hundred Thousand Dollars.($33, 500.000.00) to you in the
codicil and last testament to his (WILL).This may sound strange and
unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. The said will of my late
client was strictly made within the provisions of the WILLS ACT.
Late James Rudd until his death was a very dedicated Christian who
loved to
give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his
life
time, Late James Rudd died at the age of 71 years. According to him
this
money is to support your activities and to help the poor and the
needy.Please you should fill the information below for more
directives:
1. Full Name:
2. Telephone Number:
3. Age:
4. Contact Address/Country:
5. Occupation:
Do reply me through my alternative email address below:
Respectfully yours in the services of the Lord and human kind,
Rev. Paul Anderson (Esq)
Reply to:attorneynelsonanderson_lawoffice@yahoo.ca
Tel. +447035916113
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Anti-fraud resources:
