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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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- jamesangey@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: James Kewl <James@kewl.com>
Reply-To: jamesangey@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 19:52:59 +0400
Subject: i know that this letter may come has a suprise.......
Dear friend
I know that this letter may come to as a surprise, But sorry for the interruption; it is due to the urgency. My name is James kewl an Egyptian industrialist. My major priority of contacting you is to propose a fortune that requires immediate and swift execution,Many families are running for their dear lives as regards to ongoing war condition here in my country Egypt as soldiers are killing civilians, women and children. I do not want to leave behind; I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $10.5million to your custody as far as I can be 100% assured that it will be safe in your care until I conclude my plans on means of coming over to meet you, you will be entitled to 20% of the total sum I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money through diplomatic courier service to you without any hitch
Email me on my email ( jamesangey@yahoo.com ) for more detail
James Kewl
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Anti-fraud resources:
