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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:
- "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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- margreattassociate@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Barrister Margreat Akume <margreattassociate@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: margreattassociate@lawyer.com
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:28:44 +0300
Subject: Inheritance
Greetings to you,
I don’t actually know if this is the right medium to communicate with you
but I don’t have any option right now considering the incessant letters
from the banking authority withholding the funds of My late client who was
a Farmer that base here in Togo who unfortunately lost his life in Car
Accident along Togo Akpalime road on 31st October 2007, including his wife
and only daughter.
This letter of high confidentiality and therefore I will appreciate you
treat with utmost maturity and confidentiality. The amount involved is
US$8.6 Million dollars and it’s safe in the deceased coded account. More
details will be relayed to you only if I receive your positive response, I
have decided to share with you the proceeds of the inheritance claim. 45%
will be for you for gratification and input while 55% will be for me.
Do get back to me for further details.
Sincerely,
Barrister Margreat Akume
Head Office:
Office/ 15 Rue De France: Lome -Togo
Email: margreattassociate@lawyer.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
