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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:
- "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- howellw43@representative.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: juliana@opovo.com.br
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 22:02:49 +0800
Subject: ExxonMobil Business Proposal.
ExxonMobil Corporation
ExxonMobil House
Ermyn Way Leatherhead
Surrey KT22 8UX
United Kingdom
Hello,
I'm Mr. William R. Howell, an Executive Member of the Audit and Compensation Committee of ExxonMobil in London (http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk).
I have a sensitive and private brief from the Senior Executives of this top oil company in need of your partnership to re-profile funds amounting to £50M (Fifty Million British Pounds Sterling). I will let you have the details but in summary, the fund shall be paid to you through our operating bank where it is presently deposited as soon as the legalization and documentation process is concluded in your name.
This is a legitimate transaction without government interference and you shall be compensated with 35.5% of the total sum, should you and your company agree to work with us. Most importantly, you will be required to fill your data's stated below to enable me arrange legal documents that will proof you as a sole contractor with EXXON MOBIL:
1. Full Names 2. Contact Address 3. Direct Telephone No 4. Occupation 5. Mean of Identification.
If you are interested, please reply me urgently via my direct email address: howellw43@representative.com
Warmest Regards
William R. Howell
+447452266855
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Anti-fraud resources:
