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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)
- "00,000.00" (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: "A.E Martin" <martin.e.a@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: a.martin2020@yahoo.es
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 13:40:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Compliments:
Compliments:
I wish to introduce you to a business deal which would be beneficial to both of
us and which has to be kept confidential for the purpose thereof. I am
contacting you because I know that you are capable of handling the deal and I
want to invest my money in your Country.
My name is Barrister A.E. Martin. a Lawyer based in England. I wish to seek
your consent to present you as next of kin to my late client (Kurt Kahle) who
died in the year 2000 leaving behind the sum of GBP 11, 000,000.00 ( Eleven
Million Pounds) in a Bank here in UK and no next of kin to inherit the money.
With your assistance and my professional advice we can get access to the money
because I am his Attorney and all the members of the Family died in the Plane
Crash.
You can as well confirm this news at the BBC News website:
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm)
We shall both share the funds. 55% for me and 40% to you, while 5% should be
for Expenses or your Government may require as Tax. I look forward to your
positive response at your earliest convenience now that the Bank has written me
twice to present his Next of Kin and if possible send along your telephone
number, your correct address and name so I will call to give you further
information For privacy and confidentiality.
Regards
Barrister A.E. Martin
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Anti-fraud resources:
