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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "@lawyer.com" (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 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.
- jeremy_b@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jeremy Biggs" <jeremy-biggs@incelaw.com>
Reply-To: jeremy-biggs1@live.co.uk
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:41:02 +0800
Subject: Reference!
Dear Partner,
This is an urgent issue which may get your attention to know, The Thai Criminal Court
has issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra for abuse of power and charges for
allegedly involving in the red protests in Bangkok. Prosecutors in Thailand have asked
a court permanently to seize ¢G1.2bn in frozen assets belonging to the former prime
minister and Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra. The International Humanitarian
Law specifically prohibits "measures of terrorism" and "acts of terrorism".
View More Of The Story Here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1108114.stm
He instructed me as his Britain counsels to carry out this investment/safe keeping plan
of $15Million USD under your custody from one of his offshore private security account
as a business partner to him due to the Thai Government investigation plan so
confiscate his entire financial asset.
Please, this is risk free deal; I am not instigating you to become maybe a conspirator
in a financial crime. This is going to be legally processed and will protect you
against any breach of law; this is an urgent situation despite the spreading news of
Internet Scam as we do receive such similar email everyday befitting some huge amount
of money which doesn't come true.
For further details about this transaction between you and my client thereon, send
response to the information below or call for further hearing.
Thanks for your co-operation on this matter!
Sincerely Yours,
Mr. Jeremy Biggs
Ince & Co. International Law Firm
1 St Katharine's Way, London
E1W 1AY United Kingdom
Tel: +44 792 458 1639
jeremy_b@lawyer.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
