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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- johnsmith10083@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "SOLICITORS LAWYER" <j.Solicitors@live.com>
Reply-To: johnsmith10083@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 11:55:04 +0000
Subject: Re
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Barr. John Smith I am a financial lawyer representing a lot of clients who have
problems with their families.
Some of my clients have died and left millions of dollars in different financial institution.
Please I need someone that can be the sole beneficiary of this fund and distribute it to a named
charity organization and you will have 50% of the total money.
Please contact me back i need your urgent help.
You can reach me at (johnsmith10083@yahoo.com.hk)
Yours faithfully
John Smith.
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Ingenieria Electrica
UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA DE PEREIRA
La Julita, Pereira, Risaralda
[http://ohm.utp.edu.co] Tels: +57(6)3137122 7153 7154 7329
Fax: ext 116
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Anti-fraud resources:
