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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:
- 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Stewarts Law Firm" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <law.stewarts@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 05:31:54 -0300
Subject: Hello
London office
5 New Street Square London, EC4A 3BF
Hello
Your information has been found on the file of our late client,with
Royal Bank of Canada London and you are entitled to his inheritance
The inheritance was deposited by( Name Wit-held) before his death, he was a
Medical consultant. He passed away in Tripoli Libya on the 23rd may 2014
according to the information by the British Home Office.
Be informed that you have been confirmed as the authentic beneficiary by the
board of the holding bank of your inheritance(Royal Bank of Canada) we
will reveal further information to you when we have received your information
and cross checked and confirm with what has been certified by the holding bank.
You are advised to provide your information for re-validation as soon as possible.
Sincerely
John Cahill
Stewarts Law Firm
C2014
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Anti-fraud resources:
