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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:
- "my names are " (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.
- dr-david-osburn2011@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. David Osburn C" <greatdavidburn441@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <great_davidburn@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:18:05 +0530
Subject: A RELIABLE AND WORTHY INDIAN PARTNERS NEEDED
Greetings to you in the name of our lord,
My names are Dr .David C Osburn, a business consultant based in London,
United Kingdom. I got your esteemed contact during my search here for a
capable, reliable and trustworthy individual from your country.
My Proposal:
There is a multi-national Wrist Watch and Jewelry manufacturing company
based in USA that want to come to your country to buy their Raw
materials.
We would like you to stand in as a middle man between me and this watch
manufacturing multi-national company in USA.
We are acting as their consultant. This company will come to India to buy
their raw materials in a huge quantity. But the problem we are having with
the dealer in India is language hence, we would like you to assist me and
be part of this business in India.
Your role is to use Hindi local language to liaise with the local dealer
when the company in London will come to India to purchase these materials.
We have tried to talk to the dealer in India but having some language
problems. Please your participation will not hinder you from your original
business / activities but you and we will be making huge profits at the
end of every supply made to the London Company anytime they visit India.
We await your response.
Best Regards,
Dr .David Osburn
dr-david-osburn2011@hotmail.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
