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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- gyear86@yahoo.com.mx (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Bricks Male" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gyear86@yahoo.com.mx>
Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 19:54:36 +0100
Subject: I HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL?
TO YOUR VERY ATTENTION:
My Main reason of contacting you via email is to solicit for your assistance to strike a Business Deal that
is risk free without any legal implication attached.
I work with one of the European Leading Fund Management and Investment Company with a total Capital
Investment Funds worth over US$550Billion. Nevertheless, I have a Dormant Investment Account with
a closing balance of US$65.4million that is directly under my Portfolio, managed and administered by me
on behalf of the Investor.
However, this Investor has passed away as at 6 years ago without an authorization as to who becomes
the inheritor of the Investment Funds with its accrued 15% Return on Investment. I therefore would like
to present you as the Next of Kin cum Inheritor of the aforementioned funds for possible claiming and
evacuation. Please could you email me your Direct Telephone Numbers for discussion of this offer in
full details.
Should in case you wish to partner with me on the above Subject Matter; you will thereof retain 50% of
the Total Transferred Amount to your Designated Bank Account as part of your Profit, while you contact
me directly using my Personal Email Address at : gyear86@yahoo.com.mx
Thank you and Kind Regards.
Bricks Male
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Anti-fraud resources:
