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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:
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
- 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.
- mrleechen@excite.com (Excite; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: MR LEE CHEN <chinaartcrafts15@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: chinaartcrafts@yahoo.com.my
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 03:25:58 +0100
Subject: BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Mr LEE CHEN,
managinig director of China Metallurgical Import and Export Company ,we are
a group of business men who deal on manufacturering metallurgic equipment
in Asia into the Canada/America and Europe. We are searching for
representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our
customers in theCanada/America and Europe as well as making payments through
you to us.Please if you are interested in transacting business with us we
will be very glad.
You can learn more about us at:
www.allproducts.com/prc/cmiezhejiang/supplier.html
Please contact us for more information. Subject to your satisfaction you
will be given the opportunity to negotiate your mode of which we will pay
for your services as our representative in Canada/America and Europe Please
if you are interested forward to us your phone number/fax and your full
contact addresses. Thanks In advance
Managing Director,
Mr.LEE CHEN
Please for the sake of confidentiality i would prefare you to reply mevia my
private email account;mrleechen@excite.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
