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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:
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin 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.
- bsaviour@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Barr Steven Saviour <satkins727@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bsaviour@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:25:27 +0100
Subject: -Next Of Kin
Dearest,
I am Advocate Steven Saviour , personal attorney to my late client
from your country who was Director of engineering consultant here in
Republic of Benin. On the 27th of May 2008, my client, His wife and
their two Children were involved in a fatal car accident here and
unfortunately all occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. Since
then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives but this has proved Unsuccessful. so i
decide to contact you and need your urgent Assistance to present you
to the bank so that the proceed of my client's fund valued at about $
5.5M ( Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United Dollars.) can be paid
Into Your Bank Account immediately before the funds will be
confiscated by the Bank here.
After reading this message, reply me with your direct mobile telephone
number and your full contact information's for more details so that i
will tell you how we can legally proceed the claim. Upon the fund
transfer into your bank account both of us will share it 50% for you
50% for me. you can reach me via this email .bsaviour@hotmail.com
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through.
Yours sincerely,
Barr. Steven Saviour
bsaviour@hotmail.com
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