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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)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- kennethyorkees1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Kenneth Yorkees <kyorkees01@msn.com>
Reply-To: <kennethyorkees1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 15:22:46 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR REPLY URGENT
Dear Friend,
I did a lot of searching before choosing your contact from your country's website and business online register. It is with trust and sincerity that I approach you for assistance to transfer some funds into your bank account. Please do accept my apology if my mail infringes on your personal ethics. My name is Kenneth Yorkees,A Private Lawyer based here in Ghana. Honestly it will be my humble pleasure if we can work together.
I would like you to act as the next of kin to my deceased client who made a deposit of 5.5 Million United States Dollars Only with a bank here in Ghana few years back. He died in an auto crash with his wife and only child without any registered next of kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate with the (BANK) here in Accra-Ghana. This means that any person from your country can act as the next of kin of the deceased person for claiming the inheritance funds without any risk involved.
If you are interested in this transactions, Please do let me know immediately by furnishing me your information below so that I can give you comprehensive details on how to proceed. I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible via my private email address below:
1. Your full name.......
2. contact address..........
3. Direct telephone number..........
4. Occupation.........
5. Marital status.......
6. Age.....
7. Private email.....
Respond to my private email address: kennethyorkees1@hotmail.com
Best Regards.
Barrister Kenneth Yorkees,
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Anti-fraud resources:
