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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)
- 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.
- thomasliang2001@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Thomas Liang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomasliang2001@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:38:32 -0600
Subject: Business
Dear Friend,
I am Thomas Pei-Hwa LIANG the Executive Director and chief Financial officer of Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited.
My client, Maj. Gen. Mubdar Hatim Hazya al-Dulaimi who died with his wife and only child made a fixed deposit of $ 47.1 million in my branch.
>From investigations, he did not declare any next of kin, so I need you as a foreigner to act as the next of kin to get this fund for us because the funds will revert to the government of Hong Kong if nobody comes to claim it. My anticipated percentages for sharing shall be fair enough 60% for me, 40% for you. My Attorney will perfect the legal documents. Should you be interested please contact me with my private email below. After that I shall provide you with more details on this transaction.
Contact email: thomasliang2001@yahoo.com.hk
Thomas Pei-Hwa LIANG
Fubon Bank (Hong Kong)
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Anti-fraud resources:
