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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)
- 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.
- h.ldriscons@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "H.Idris Cons Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <h.ldriscons@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:56:05 -0700
Subject: Good Day
Good Day
Kindly accept my sincere apology if my email does not meet your personal Ethics, for it is not my wish to be hostile or aggressive in my approach to you by these I regret what manner of discomforts this message might be to you, It is by virtue of the approval letter I got from the account general of the security company to look for the beneficiary claimant of my deceased client fund in their custody, that is why I have opted this way in contacting you Because if i go to the Embassy or National Population Commission they will try to gain access of information in that way the money will not be in our reach anymore
By any chance you might have or i would love to hear from you so that i can clarify issues about the fund of my late client valued at (One Million Dollars) which can be paid out to you by the security company as a beneficiary claimant. Kindly indicate your interest by contacting me via my direct email (h.ldriscons@gmail.com) so that i can furnish you with more details regarding this matter
H.Idris Cons Esq
Notary Public & Advocators of Law
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Anti-fraud resources:
