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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- brianmarshall51@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: angela mani <angelamani5@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 21:06:16 +0000
Subject: VERY URGENT
Dear Friend,
I'm very happy to inform you my friend.How are you and your family?hope fine. I sent you a proposal some years ago about some funds $25.5million dollars that i want you to help me claim it,Although it fails us somehow due to lack of you financing issue.but i got the funds cleared through my new partner in Brazil Mr Gomez.I really appreciate your effort at that time that is the reason i'm sending you a compensation funds through my lawyer in United Kingdom.
Presently in Hong KONG for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile,i did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us somehow,you have to contact my principal attorney in the united kingdom with his direct phone number or email him ask him about your $1.8million dollars which i kept for you as compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in this matter.i appreciated your efforts at that time very much.
So feel free and contact my Attorney.
Barr: Brian Noelemail:brianmarshall51@yahoo.com.hk
Good luck to you and please notify me when you receive your funds so that we can share the joy together.
Yours lovely friend,Angela Mani
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Anti-fraud resources:
