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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- +447045733798 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Mike jeffery <mikjeff30@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mikejeff2009@msn.com
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:16:58 +1100
Subject: Hello,
Hello,
My name is Dr. mike jeffery, Regional Head of British
Isles (Royal Bank of Canada InvestmentManagement (UK)
Limited).
I am writing in respect of a German British Citizen
customer of my bank Mr. Andreas Schranner who died
together with his wife and children in a Plane crash
on Monday 31st july 2000 GMT 14:22 UK while they were
flying to New York on vacation.
Please see tp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
for more information.
The late Mr. Andreas Schranner left in our bank the
sum of twenty five million five hundred thousand
pounds (ÒL25.5 million pounds) and nobody will ever
come for this money because he died with his entire
family. I am the only person that is aware of this
money since Mr. Andreas Schranner did not give to my
bank any next of kin to inherit his money. Now, I want
to use my position in the bank to transfer this money
to your country for investment.
If you can provide me with an account where I can
transfer this (twenty five million five hundred
thousand pounds) ÒL25.5 million pounds. I will give
you 30% of this entire fund while the remaining 60%
shall be for me, extra 10% will be for transfer
charges. I am hoping to get a favourable response from
you.
Dr.mike jeffery
you call me on +447045733798
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Anti-fraud resources:
