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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:
- "msevlynkass@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- 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.
- undso@london.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UN DEBT SETTLEMENT OFFICE" <undebtsettlementoffice_uk@latinmail.com>
Reply-To: undso@london.com
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 23:52:58 +0300
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION $9.8M USD
UN DEBT SETTLEMENT OFFICE
Verification Department
Whitehall Court,
London, SW1A 2EL
United Kingdom
Email: undso@london.com
Tel: +44-793-7448-362
Fax +44-704-0907-680
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION $9.8M USD
It is pertinent to inform you that on assumption of duty, I discover that
your name is in the data-bank as one of the unpaid individuals/corporate
bodies.
You are advised to respond promptly to confirm if truly you have not been
paid to enable your outstanding payment to be processed and remitted
directly to your bank account via HSBC BANK, BARCLAY'S BANK or any other
bank as to be directed based on funds available and your prompt response.
Be inform that nobody is to be given preferential treatment rather it is
first to respond first to be paid.
Finally, specify the amount you are being owed if there is any mistake.
Yours faithfully,
Ms. Evlyn Kass
Payment Co-ordinator
msevlynkass@live.com
Favour Ada
Officer
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Anti-fraud resources:
