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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barrister" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- barristercoll@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: natwestbank natwestbank <info4natwest@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 17:38:41 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
*YOUR REF......................... OUR
REF........................
OFFICE OF TRANSFER CLEARANCE:SECTION DEPARTMENT*
*+447024026557*......*TELEX-WIRE DEPARTMENT NAT-WEST BANK*
*+447024044741*......*INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER DEPARTMENT*
*+2348022443530*....*.UMPIRE CONGLOMERATE ANTHONY(OVERSEA) *
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE YOUR CONTRACT
COMPENSATION FUND OF SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO MR JOHN MORRIS HAS
BEEN RECEIVED AND THE BANK ANTHONY HAS BEGAN THE PROCESSING.
THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT THE SIGNATURE ON THE TELEX WIRE TRANSFER SLIP IS
ACTUALLY YOURS,OTHERWISE STATE NOW IF YOU DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT.
CONTACT: BARRISTER COLLINS MORGAN*
ANTHONY IN-CHIEF TELEX-WIRE TRANSFER PROCESSING
**barristercoll@gmail.com*
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Anti-fraud resources:
