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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- csolomon174@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: chris solomon <csolomon174@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:02:23 +0200
Subject: very urgent
Dear Witteveen?
I am Barrister Chris Solomon chambers and associates, a solicitor at
law and personal attorney to Late Mr.P.A.Witteveen, from your country
he worked with Shell Company Republic of Lome Togo. Unfortunately he
died on the motor accident with the entire family and has nobody as
his next of kin. I have made several inquiries to his country's
embassy here to locate his extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful. Now, the (finance company) where the funds(Three
Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) were deposited
for has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or any of his
relatives unless his account would be confiscated within the next few
official working days.I traced his last name and find out that you
have the same last name which made me to contact you to assist in
retrieving the fund which was deposited in his name and account number
before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance
company.
Please Respond to my confidential Email Address
(csolomon174@gmail.com)for more details and clarification.
Yours in service,
Chris (Esq)
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Anti-fraud resources:
