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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.
- 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.
- baldwinriidge@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Baldwin Ridge" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <baldwinriidge@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2014 05:01:44 +0200
Subject: IMPORTANT INFORMATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
I am a banker by profession; currently the Departmental Manager in Accounts and Audit Department in of the fast growing bank in United Kingdom. An opportunity to transfer a left over funds of (US$10.5Million) belonging to a deceased customer who died along with his entire family in a plane crash is ready.
After making fruitless efforts to get in contact with any of his family member, I have now decided solicit for you to stand as the next of next to this large sum of money as I do not want the funds to be confiscated by the United Kingdom Financial Authority. Hence, if the money comes to your account, I have decided to share the Money at the ratio of 50% for me and 40% to you if you will agree to Workout this transfer with me. More details and procedures to transfer the funds will be given to you immediately I receive your good response.
Contact me via: baldwinriidge@yahoo.com for immediate action.
100% risk free.
CONFIRM FACT HERE with this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Thank You.
Mr. Baldwin Ridge.
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Anti-fraud resources:
