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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:
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- mark.jefff@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Mark Jeff" <info@jeff.com>
Reply-To: mark.jefff@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:42:55 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Re:
I wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the
totalsum of £15,600,000.00GBP (Fifteen million Six hundred thousand
British pounds)in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name
now withheldsince this is our second letter to you).I contacted you
because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the
beneficiary to the inheritance. I therefore reckoned that you can receive
these funds as you are qualified by your name identity.
All the legal papers will be processed in your acceptance. In your
acceptance of this deal, I request that you kindly forward to me your
letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers and a
forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court
probate division for the release of this sum of money. You are entitle to
50% of this money while i will also take 50% Get back to me with the
following contact mail addres[mark.jefff@yahoo.com.hk]
Yours faithfully,
Mr Mark Jeff.
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Anti-fraud resources:
