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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 pounds" (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)
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- continher@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mark Klein" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <continher@lawyer.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:33:59 +0100
Subject: Can I Trust You?
About Your Uncle Inheritance
I am Mark Klein attorney to late Mr.Richard,who died in a car crash in London with his family on November 5th 2012. He left behind a deposit of (9.8 million Pounds) for you as his next of kin and you have the same last name with my late client who was a citizen of the United State, You are related to him, Your consent is needed by me to present you as the next of kin to the Bank to inherit his fortune.
I have all documents that would give you all the legal right to claim this money which belong to your uncle, after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? Send me your telephone number so that we can discuss on this transaction. Email me and
Re-confirm your full names:
Best Regards
Mark Klein
E-mail: continher@lawyer.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
