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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447010020176 (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.
- mr.benjamindickie202@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "INTERNATIONAL JOB OFFER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.benjamindickie202@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:11:18 -0400
Subject: INTERNATIONAL JOB OFFER 1
Hello Dear,
I am Mr. Benjamin Dickie Native of Northern Ireland. I am residing in Rome
for about Three months now working, but my family is in London,
I will love to hire a caring male or female house keeper directly who is
willing to work in my house in London as a house keeper. I will like you to
know that I have 2 daughters 10 and 8 years old, I can afford to be paying
you 2000 pounds every four weeks and up keep money every week as 200
Pounds per week and this is outside your 2000 pounds, your responsibility
in my house is just to take care of the house. Kindly get back to me if you
are interested in this offer.
Thanks and best regards
Mr. Benjamin Dickie
+447010020176
mr.benjamindickie202@hotmail.com
150 School Lane
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
UK
CV8 2GR
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Anti-fraud resources:
