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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- wiljackson435@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: wiljackson435@googlemail.com
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:05:37 -0400
Subject: from the estate of Late Engr John Ferguson
WILL AND TESTAMENT
Dear beneficiary
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. John
Ferguson; I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered.
I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address stated on the
WILL. I wish to notify you that late Engr. John Ferguson made you a
beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Seven Million Great British
Pounds (GBP £7,000.000.00 ) to you in the codicil and last testament to his
WILL.
Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the
past or simply you were recommended to him by one of his numerous friends
abroad who wished you good. Engr. John Ferguson until his death was a member
of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic &Electrical
Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to be involved in
charitable projects. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during
his life time.
Late Engr.John Ferguson died on the 13th day of December, 2004 at the age of
80 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this
money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the
needy in our society.
Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful, endeavour to get back to me
as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job.
I hope to hear from you in no distant time.
Yours in Service,
Barrister Williams Jackson . ESQ
EMAIL: wiljackson435@googlemail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
