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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- jewel.taylor@o2.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JEWEL HOWARD TAYLOR <jorge-torres@wanadoo.es>
Reply-To: jewel.taylor@o2.pl
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2015 20:41:27 +0200
Subject: GET BACK TO ME???
HELLO GOOD FRIEND,
How are you doing today together with your family? Is my pleasure to
contact you for Real and Genuine business investment project,Actually I
would love to invest in your country or any country of your choice under
your care. My name is senator Jewel Howard Taylor.I'm seeking for a
reliable person to assist me investment my funds over there in he/her
country.I shall reward you with 20% of the investment capital funds amount
$50million.if your interested kindly get back to me for further details.via
email: jewel.taylor@o2.pl I Shall visit you with my family once the funds
hits into your account for the onward investment.Kindly get back to me with
the following information's of yours to enable me start the processing.1.
Your Full name & Age:-----Contact Address:---------Contact
Telephone:-------------------- Occupation & Position:--------
Above all, I wish to assure you that the funds in question is not an act of
Terrorist Funding, neither Money Laundering nor Drug-funding. Thus,the
transfer will follow the normal protocol of funds transfer, backed up with
its papers so that you will not encounter any difficulties/problem with
your Federal Monetary Control authorities. I await your urgent response.
Thanks and God bless
Best Regards
Ex First Lady of Liberia
Senate Jewel Howard-Taylor
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