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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "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.
- direct2568@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Prince darlynton <fawaz_ad2@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 06:16:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: from Fredrick
Dear Friend,
My name is Barrister Fredrick Otting, My aim of sending this "business proposal" to you is to solicit for your assistance and co-operation to transfer some huge amount of money into your account overseas. Therefore, this communication should be held in high confidence.My client Wing Chiu Lee and his wife and only child died on the 4th of January 2003 in an automobile accident in United Kingdom. And as his legal attorney, my late client left his share of fund from a business deal which he transacted in Canada with a security company. This fund has been lying there unclaimed for quite a long time.And from his record he did not leave any next of kin and traces of his relative cannot be found so my reason of contact you is that l want to present you as the beneficiary of the fund with some legal documents so that the sum of Eleven million united states dollars can be released to you.Please call me on my mobile +19402385489 and also send the
following NAME:_______________________________________ AGE:________________________________________ SEX:_______________________________ CONUTRY:____________________________________ PHONE:________________________________________ EMAIL:_____________________________________ OCCUPATION:_______________________________________ so that l can have a good communication net work with you. We shall share the fund equally and you shall alsoAdvise me on lucrative areas for investment.I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free.
RegardsBarrister Fredick Otting,private email: direct2568@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
