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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:
- 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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "smithchongchow@mail.mn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Smith Chong Show <fufel@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: smithchongchow@mail.mn
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:53:21 +0800
Subject: Dear Winner
Dear Winner,
Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by my law firm, SMITH LEE Law Chambers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
My name is Advocate Smith Chong Chow (Esq.). A personal attorney to my late client Mr. Ronald Owen who worked with an oil firm here in Malaysia, Mr. Ronald Owen a well known Philanthropist, before he died, he made a WILL in my law firm stating that $9.2M Nine Million Two Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars, only should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice outside Malaysia (Overseas). It is my utmost desire to execute the WILL of my late client. You are required to contact me immediately to start the process of transferring this money to any of your designated official bank account. I urge you to contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit. Please contact me urgently via my direct telephone number or you reply to my private email address below and immediately stating your details.
Tel number: +601-4639-1395
Email ID: smithchongchow@mail.mn
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.
Regards
Advocate Smith Chong Chow
Attorney-at-Law
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Anti-fraud resources:
