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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:
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr.hill@hilldickinsonchambers.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Hill Dickinson Chambers <hr.ali101@outlook.com>
Reply-To: barr.hill@hilldickinsonchambers.com
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 16:32:16 +0100
Subject: Urgent Responds Needed
--
Dear Friend,
I am a lawyer here in Nigeria, I need your assistance in the transfer
of $13,500,000 left behind by my client who lost his life along with
his entire family in a bomb blast by the Islamic Terrors Group called
Boko Haram.The fund must be transferred out of the country before it is
declared serviceable by the government. Attempts made to trace any of
his relatives was unsuccessful. I will give you more information upon
your response to this proposal.Send your telephone number or email me so
that I can explain in details.
Please forward your response via; barr.hill@hilldickinsonchambers.com
Best Regards,
Hill Dickinson Chambers
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Anti-fraud resources:
