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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:
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- 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.
- p.mills2549@yahoo.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Paul Mills, Esq." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <p.mills2549@yahoo.pl>
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:53:47 -0000
Subject: Re:I can not operate it alone
I am Barrister Paul Mills, Esq.From Togo Republique.I solicit for your kind attention to assist me download the
sum of (USD$1.1Million)into your bank account. I got your contact through a Global Network and i decided to
communicate with you in a good manner.
I can not operate it alone without using a Foreigner who will act as a partner to my late client and legitimate
beneficiary to the fund due to my job and position.I was mandated by the bank to provide the next of kin to
inherit the fund of my late client.I will advice you to keep this transaction secret to yourself alone.If you are
interested to assist me urgently fill the below space with your informations and return back to me to submit to
bank for immediate proceed of the transfer into your account.
After sucessful claims of the fund 47% of the total sum will be for you and 50% for me while the balance of 3% will
be set aside for any expenses incured during the process of this claims by both of us.I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect both of us,as it is 100% risk free for both side.
1.YOUR FULL NAMES.2 RESIDENCE ADDRESS 3.COUNTRY 4.SEX
5.AGE 6.OCCUPATION 7.MOBILE TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS:
Call me for more discusion after reading my mail and write me back via my private email
address: p.mills2549@yahoo.pl
Thanks.
Barr. Paul Mills, Esq.
Tel:+228-0840781
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Anti-fraud resources:
