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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mmmhelix@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Michael Helix" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmmhelix@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2012 07:52:38 -0000
Subject: re: hong kong
My name is Michael helix an attorney at law and resident in Hong kong. I am soliciting your co-operation in an exclusive business venture which would be immensely beneficial to both of us when successfully executed.
I got your contact through the X-directory peoples international directory and can tentatively intimate you that whatever we shall communicate would be of total confidentiality. At this point I can only disclose to you that the value of this venture is in the 28.8Million (british pounds sterling) mark. I will be in the best of position to intimate you further if you communicate back your interest and readiness to co-operate with me in this very special opportunity.
Please reply to mmmhelix@gmail.com
Warm Regards,
Michael Helix (Esq)
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Anti-fraud resources:
