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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- josemanuelblanc1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jose Manuel Blanc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josemanuelblanc1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:48:49 -0700
Subject: THE MONEY IS IN SECURITY COMPANY IN VALENCIA SPAIN
Greetings,
I know this message will come to you as a surprise as we have not met before. I am JOSE MANUEL BLANC. I have a proposal to make, that might be of interest to you. I am in possession of a large sum of money (USD 8.5 million) Eight million and five hundred Thousand US Dollars.
The money belongs to my late client Jones kabila who was one of the community leaders in the Congo DRC. He was killed by rebel soldiers.
The money is of no criminal origin as it was largely realized from black market sale of crude oil and Diamond during the war in the Congo DRC.
The money has been lodged with a Finance company in VALENCIA, Spain, under my custody as the family lawyer; and I have been ask to provide the next of kin to my late client otherwise the funds will be confiscated. I will help to facilitate the release of the funds to you as partner of my late client from the finance company. The money was lodge in the finance company by my late client before he died. I now want to move this money into another account and invest it in Profitable ventures.
I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE:
?. Firstly to assist me to receive this money in your country.
?. To assist me invest the money in profitable ventures in your country or any other suitable country where you have good connections.
For your assistance you will get 35% of the total amount. Upon your request, I will give you further details of the plans and tell you more about my self but you must treat this as highly confidential for my security.
Here is my secured Email: josemanuelblanc1@gmail.com
Kindest regards,
Mr.JOSE MANUEL BLANC.
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