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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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- toeksreymao@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Benita" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <toek.sreymao@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 20:01:33 +0700
Subject: PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE
Dear Friend,
I know this email will surprise you. Please accept my offer for charity
plans. My name is Mrs. Benita Milokivic. I am a rich Syrian woman of 66
years.
I was married to the director of (ISAR SEAFOOD LTD) located in China and
Cambodia. I am seriously suffering from the chemical gas attack that
affected us in August in Damascus. My entire families died by that attack.
My condition is hopeless to survive. Nobody to call for help. I am using
my doctor's android phone to send you this email. I want you to take over
my funds in Cambodia for charity plans and humanitarian aid for Syrian
refugees, and motherless, less privileged, widows in your country. I pray
Allah to help us. I have $10,800.000.00 in my Bank. I will offer you 12%
for your commitment. My lawyer in Cambodia will direct and arrange the
release of the funds to you. Presently I can't reply you. My lawyer
contact is stated below
Barrister. Toek Sreymao
E-mail: toeksreymao@gmail.com
TEL- +855-883994742
Sent from Google Mail on Android
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Anti-fraud resources:
