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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- brittahanson27@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Britta Hanson" <brittahanson27@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2013 17:44:19 +0700
Subject: investment officer.
Hello,
I am Mr Britta Hanson, I work with a prime bank as a project and
investment officer.
I am seeking your approval to receive transfer of US$5.5million
dollars, as a close relative of one of our clients that died in a
fatal road accident when he want to go to another state ,during the
arrest of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo the former president of cote d'ivoire.his
account is currently on standby for claim.
therefore I have contacted you so that we can transfer the
money out from the country to elsewhere for our own.We will share it
50/50.
If you want to treat this matter with me contact me
immediately and Please provide your Telephone/Fax Number and your
address.
contact be here (brittahanson27@yahoo.com.ph)
Sincerely.
Mr Britta Hanson
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Anti-fraud resources:
