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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:
- "richard.crosby@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.RICHARD CROSBY" <ianadamesq@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: r.crosby@live.co.za
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2010 13:45:45 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hello
Hello
I am Mr. Richard Crosby a South African citizen and financial consultant with one of the leading private finance firm based here in South Africa
From my enquiries, your profile on investments and acquisitions suits an investment opportunity and may turn out to be a good foundation on which we can build an effective and functional business relationship of particular interest presently, there is a client's account that I have had to administer for the past six years. Although the client is late, he made a deposit of US$22 with the Finance Firm that we can safely engage for investment funding before they are declared Unserviceable or confiscated.
My client died in very unfortunate circumstances with no existing beneficiaries. It is my mandate as clients' financial consultant to facilitate the release of this fund to a verified beneficiary.I am seeking for your Co-operation to present you as the beneficiary to my late client.
This transaction will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect all parties involve and for your assistance you will gladly compensate with 35% from the total sum of US$22Million.
For further directive, E-mail: richard.crosby@live.com
Regards
Mr.Richard Crosby
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Anti-fraud resources:
