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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.
- 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.
- smith.musa@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Musa Smith <drgulakdansokoto06@gmail.com>
Reply-To: musa.smith@mail.ru
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:14:55 +0300
Subject: Hello
--
Goodmorning,
I sent you an earlier mail but did not receive any response.
I am a solicitor with Smith & Partners Associates.
It is regarding my passed on client who has the same family name with
you,likely your family member I aided in making an investment deposit
with a bank.
When I made his death known to the bank, I was instructed to present any
available member of his family or close relative to be paid the funds
since he had no kin filled with the bank.
Please acknowledge if your email is still valid to enable me explain
more.
Best regards,
Regards,
Musa Smith
Email: smith.musa@mail.ru
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Anti-fraud resources:
