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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- albertruss1955@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Info <info@taylorlawoffice.com>
Reply-To: albertruss1955@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:29:20 +0200
Subject: Kind Attention
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am pleased to introduce you to this transaction on behalf of Taylor Law Offices in respect of our client who passed on intestate.
We are offering to legally assign to you the responsibility of being the Administrator of the remains of the Estate since there is no identifiable heir. We reckoned that you can manage the estate if given the administrative rights and also oversee to the liquidation eventually. All relevant documentation will be processed in your favour and further details will be sent to you if you are willing and ready to assist us and be aware that your interest will not be jeopardized.
This project is risk free and we are going to work within the ambit of the law to ensure strict compliance to United States Inheritance Laws. We both have major and sensitive roles to play in actualizing this laudable project as we shall both do all that is humanly relevant to ensure a smooth, successful and hitch free project.
Our client was a partner in Blue Chip and Construction companies here in the United States and we have been her sole legal representative for over twenty years. This relationship has given us access to privileged information in respect to the Estate.
We are Legal Consultants with our office based in New York and would open correspondence with you to further discuss this if you are interested. However, if you have no interest in this project please disregard this letter and keep it confidential without recourse to a third party. I do hope to hear from you soonest. Thank you.Please,send your email response to albertruss1955@gmail.com
Yours faithfully,
Albert Russell.
Consultant on Inheritance Issues
Taylor Law Offices
New York USA.
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