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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barrister" (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 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.
- info_averytrv@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "TREVOR AVERY" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 06:42:33 +0200
Subject: INFO CONFIRMATION URGENTLY FROM YOU.
I hope this email gets to you this time as this is my third time of sending it.
I have tried without success to locate your contact address and telephone number
and I resorted to communicate with you via email which is an unconventional
means of relaying an important message such as this.
My name is Barrister Bennett Trevor Avery esq, a private attorney and principal
partner in the law firm of Bennett & CO. Int'l Lawyers.
We are presently conducting a standard process investigation and recommendation
on behalf of Union Bank Plc , a banking conglomerate of Lloyds TSB Plc Group.
This investigation is in respect of a deceased customer (names withheld) who
shares the same surname with you including circumstances surrounding his huge
financial investments.
However, you may be interested to know that I got your information after a very
conscious search online for a suitable successor to the deceased customer
and I have considered it necessary to inquire from you before filing my
investigation conclusion report to the bank.
The customer died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the huge
financial investment he made at Lloyds TSB Plc in United Kingdom
and we have been assigned to inquire and recommend a beneficiary to secure his
lodgment before the bank gets it confiscated in the next 20 working days.
The essence of this message is to request you to provide answers/ comments on
any or all of the four questions below:
1. Are you aware of any relative or extended family of yours born on the 17th of
February 1946 who shares the same surname with you and whose last known
whereabout was AMERICA ?
2. Are you aware of any reasonable financial investments made by this person at
Lloyds TSB Plc,a financial investment arm of Lloyds TSB Plc Group?
3. Could you establish beyond reasonable doubt your eligibility to assume status
of successor in title to the deceased if you are legally
recommended to the Bank ?
4. Do you support substantial funds donations to charity organizations?
Your answers to the questions above will determine our recommendation to Lloyds
TSB Plc towards legally appointing you to inherit this fund after previously
certified investigations by the bank had yielded results
that there is no known relation to the deceased customer.
Be advised that we are constrained at this point from giving you detailed
information concerning the investigation process for security reasons.
We will provide you with additional information upon receipt of your response.
Thank you for accommodating our Enquiry.
Please foward requested details to: info_averytrv@yahoo.com.hk
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Bennett Trevor
Principal Partner.
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