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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- gaoyingxin60@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Gao Yingxin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gaoyingxin60@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:30:37 +0100
Subject: Good day!
Good day!
My Apologies if this has come to you as a surprise.Please, consider this proposal I make to you carefully.
I write to you confidentially in regards to an investment account worth $10.5 Million (US Dollars) here in Public bank China. Our records show that the owner of the account Mr Frederick ...... passed away in a car crash with his family without nominating a next-of-kin for his account and all attempts by the bank to trace one lies solely on my desk.
However, the bank needs to pay out this money immediately otherwise the entire amount will be converted to government money. I therefore write to propose that I confirm your name to the bank as the beneficiary of the $10.5 Million and we can share the amount 40% for you, 50% for me and 10% for taxes. This deal is 100% risk free and we both have everything to gain.
I see this type of deals happen everyday in the banking industry in China and as a family man, I believe that this is our opportunity to secure our futures. Contact me on my private email address:gaoyingxin60@yahoo.com.hk if you are interested on how to proceed.
Regards,
Gao
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Anti-fraud resources:
