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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- georgeclesse@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.George clesse" <georgeclesse01@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: georgeclesse@mail.com
Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 18:56:07 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Hello
Dear Friend,
It is a pleasure to contact you through email, My name is Mr.George
Clesse,I am a British
Citizen working as Financial Manager in the Tasmania Finance Company.
I would like to strike a deal with you which I would like you to keep it
secret for both of us
here is my official private email address (georgeclesse@mail.com)
Contact me for more details, this deal worth Millions of Dollars and it
have to be secret between you and I
As matter of fact this is a deal that will fetch you and I Millions of
dollars if we use one mind and one spirit.all it needs is understanding
and trust. It does not involve any risk at all.
Best Regards
Mr.George Clesse
Financial Manager
Tasmania Finance Company
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Anti-fraud resources:
