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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us 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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- barr_zarirjcama@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "barrister zarir j cama" <barr_zarirjcama@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:05:14 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Attention
Z.J.C.Attornies and Associates.
Solicitors and advocates.
Victoria Island Lagos
Nigeria .
Cell: +234 8066897889
E-mail: barr_zarirjcama@yahoo.com
Attn:
My name is Barr Zarir j Camay Esq., of the above address.
I am contacting you in regards to a business
transaction of a large sum of money from a dormant
account. Though I know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried,
but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end
of the day.
I wish to know if we can work together. I would like
you to stand as the next of kin to my deceased client
who made some deposited the sum of ($10 million US
dollars) in a local bank. He died without any registered
next of kin and as such the funds now have an open
beneficiary mandate. Moreover it appears you are
related to him by the virtue of your last names.
If you are interested you do let me know so that I can
give you comprehensive details on what we are to do.
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as
possible.
Sincerely,
Zarir Justin Camay Esq..
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