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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- barristerchukwu1959@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr. Chukwu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerchukwu1959@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:20:27 -0800
Subject: MONEY TRANSFER
Attention:
I am Barrister Chukwu Ikenga, by name and I am writing you this email
message regarding your unpaid Fund, My Dear; I wish to inform you
that the people you are dealing with are not the real people that is
in position to release your Fund to you that is the reason why it’s
impossible for you to received your fund, why can't you deal with the
bank appointed to handle the Transfer of your Fund instead of sending
money to people that will not help you get your fund.
If only you will response back to me upon receipt of this email
notification and follow my instruction, I will personally direct you
to the appointed paying Bank were you will be paid instead of wasting
your hard earn money and time on these hoodlums.
As it may interest you to know all this money you have been sending
would have completed your payment transmission before now if you heard
contact the appointed paying Bank. Email me back only on this email {
barristerchukwu1959@gmail.com } for more information on how you will
received your UN-paid Fund from the appointed paying Bank.
I shall be expecting to read from you only if you needed my assistance on
this matter.
Regards,
Barr. Chukwu
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Anti-fraud resources:
