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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- dsattorneysatlaw@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DAVID SPEAKMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dsattorneysatlaw@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:40:51 +0100
Subject: IT IS MY PLEASURE
David Speakman
Cohen Law Office
Attorneys at Law
601-250 Dundas St W Toronto, ON M5T 2Z5 Canada
Good day, I am David Speakman, an attorney at Cohen Law office. a solicitor at law.
I am contacting You about a dormant account in a tune of Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars belonging to my late client who shares similar Surnames with you. I was given an ultimatum from the Bank to provide a member Of the family, and I have written several letters to his embassy to locate any Member of his family but all efforts lost. I want to present you as a surviving Family member to enable you put a claim to the funds.
Please indicate your Interest for more information by responding to my private Email account:dsattorneysatlaw@gmail.com
Thanks,
David Speakman
Cohen Law Office
Attorneys at Law
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Anti-fraud resources:
