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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:
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "high court" (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.
- 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.
- +447045752371 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "CHARLES STANLEY ESQ" <charlesstanley000100@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:47:31 -0500
Subject: Dear Funds Beneficiary,
Dear Funds Beneficiary,
You are now very close to the deadline that the British Royal High Court of Justice
have given to you to claim your trust funds by procuring the said modality charges
fees, well I have spoke with the court that you will do all you can to pay these fees
before or on the deadline date which is 1st of August 2011. I am writing to you to
remind you that the deadline is getting very close now and if you must pay these fees
you have to try your best to procure these fees as soon as possible.
I have forwarded to you all the documentations for this transaction in my previous
emails to you and as such you need to act fast now so that you can once and for all
finalize the transfer process of this trust fund because the court is not going to give
you more time anymore to pay these fees as they have threatened that if you fail to pay
these fees before this deadline period the court will be required to confiscate your
trust funds.
I advise you to act fast now and ensure that you procure these fees before the deadline
date the court has given to you.
I anticipate your prompt response to this email. I can be reached on: +44 70457 52371
should you wish to discuss over the phone.
Sincerely Yours,
Charles Stanley Esq.
(Solicitor at Law)
For: Graham N. Robert
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Anti-fraud resources:
