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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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- duke.jameswills@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Duke Williams <kosi.floxy1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: duke.jameswills@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:43:20 +0100
Subject: Can you be trusted please do acknowledge
ATTENTION
How are you and your family? I sent you several emails without getting a
response about a mutual investment proposal. My client wants to investe
Sixty Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Of America Dollars
,Which is her inheritance fund,with his late fathers bank here, I don't
know if you have not been receiving the messages. Being his account officer
I have started working on the 60.5 million that is left in the bank My
Client will like to invest this money in your country through your company
in any viable and profitable venture that you will recommend either as a
shareholder or joint venture partnership,
Please be assured that the funds are from a genuine source
Please send the under listed information to me immediately.
1. Full Name:
2. Telephone Numbers:
3. Your Age:
4. Your Occupation:
5. Your Home Address:
The 60.5 million would be released to you within 10 working days according
to our regional director and I working to make sure you receive it with the
same period.
I await your immediate response at duke.jameswills@gmail.com
Regards,
Mr James Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
