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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us dollars" (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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- jameswilliams5510@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "J WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jameswilliams5510@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:52:28 +0200
Subject: Vision Bank Finance LTD
Hello Dear,
I wish to notify you AGAIN that you bear the same last name with my late customer who did not nominate
a next of kin to a total sum of Five Million US Dollars in the codicil and last testament. Name now withheld
since this is our second letter to you.
We are reaching you the second time because we have concluded our search and you are the only person
that qualifies/relates by same last name to receive this inheritance fund.
If you receive this notice, we request you to call urgently and send an acknowledgement email with your full
names, address and contact phone number to enable us process your inheritance.
Yours Truly,
James B. Williams
jameswilliams5510@gmail.com
Vision Bank Finance LTD.
George, SA
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Anti-fraud resources:
