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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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 next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARRISTER VAUGHAN GOLD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bgee3130@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:34:25 -0000
Subject: BUSINESS PARTNER NEEDED
Dear Friend,
Kindly read my mail carefully. I am Barrister Vaughan Gold, the attorney to Mr. Kurt Kahle who
is deceased. He was the sole proprietor of a business school and oil consultant in Germany. He
lost his wife and son in a plane crash on his way to New York on a business trip before the
ill-fated plane crashed on July, 31st 2000.
I am currently now in China to assist and claim his deposited funds of $4.5m usd (Four Million
and five hundred thousand United States Dollars) with a reputable bank in China. As his
attorney and I have the right to find a beneficiary to receive this deposited funds as next of
kin which is the reason i have contacted you as I can not be his attorney and be the
beneficiary simultaneously.
After 9 years of dormant funds, I have chosen to visit the bank in China and they are willing
to co-operate only if I come forward with a beneficiary.
You may visit this website for more details of my deceased client.
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm)
The fair share will be 45% for me and 45% for you (beneficiary) as 10% will be shared between
the both of us for expenses to be incurred in the process of documentation and transfer.
We shall discuss further as soon as you send me your reply.
Best Regards,
Vaughan Gold (Esq)
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Anti-fraud resources:
