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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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 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.
- mrevans_smith@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- our lawyer barrister evans smith +2347081206539 email: mrevans_smith@yahoo.com to and inform him that you are ready to work with us in (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "EX-PRESIDENT WIFE OF NIGERIA, PATIENT GOOD LUCK JONATHAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <leonwitter4@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2017 12:34:05 +0100
Subject: CAN WE INVEST $100 MILLION IN YOUR CARE IN YOUR COUNTRY
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL FROM MRS. PATIENT JONATHAN THE EX PRESIDENT WIFE OF NIGERIA
Attention:
I am contacting you because I know that you are capable to invest this huge fund into real estate properties, me and my husband the Ex president want to invest $100 Million United States Dollars to you directly.
We have lodged this fund in Apex Finance & Security Company and we are planning now to move this said fund to
you to help us to invest it into real estate business or any lucrative business.
Please, if you can help in this matter, we are going to make you our investment manager all over the world if you can
help and make sure that you keep this information secretly.
Please you can call our lawyer Barrister Evans Smith +2347081206539 Email: mrevans_smith@yahoo.com to and inform him that you are ready to work with us in this matter to enable him process your name in the documents as the owner of the fund, so that the Bank can release the fund to you.
Regards,
MRS. PATIENT JONATHAN EMAIL: pgj_firstlady@yahoo.com
The Ex first lady of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
