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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- +447031973903 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- kenedward1957@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ken edward <kenedward1957@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 18:56:05 +0100 (BST)
Subject: LEGAL REPRESENTATION/ SOLICITATION
KEN EDWARD LAW CHAMBERS
Office: 187 Coldershaw Road, west Ealing W13-9EA, London UK.
Direct line: + 447031973903.
Fax line: + 448700687533.
E-mail: kenedward1957@yahoo.co.uk
OUR REF: BTL/ LON/NAJ/20/07/A
YOUR REF: UKNLPAD.
ATTENTION: Nagel.
SUBJECT: -- LEGAL REPRESENTATION/ SOLICITATION
This Office is in receipt of your mail, I will advise you to contact your claim agent for more explanation about your lottery winning, but don’t worry your self about the German Taxes because by chamber will send you the award winning and Insurance Bond Certificates which will stand as evidence to your winnings, you will present these two Documents to the German Government immediately the bank transfer your winning prize to you.
Ken Edward Law Chambers.
Signed: Ken Edward.
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