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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- barrjohn_ike@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "barrjohn_ike@yahoo.com" <barrjohnike1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barrjohn_ike@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 16:01:33 -0700
Subject: TO THE FAMILIES OF ROLLAND MAZZOLA AND IT IS URGENT.
Your contact came to my office from the Embassy here in West Africa after i
reported the issue of my late clients death. I was directed to contact you
by the Embassy concerning one of my clients, Mr.Rolland Jamison who
unfortunately died of Cancer on March 7,2006, leaving you NOMINATED as Next
of Kin to his account in Access Bank Plc worth over 4.7 million USD.
Please get back to me immediately via Email for more information on the
immediate claim and Procedures for Claim by you. Please provide the
following details so that i can introduce you to the Access bank plc as the
Next of kin to Late Mr.Rolland Jamison.
Your First Name:
Your Surname:
Current address:
Occupation:
Direct Mobile Number:
Reply through our email address: barrjohn_ike@yahoo.com
Signed,
Chief Barr.John Ike(SAN).
+2348104270128.
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Anti-fraud resources:
