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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:
- "vleehk@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "vleehk@yandex.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: "Lee Valiant" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vleehk@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:44:35 -0600
Subject: Re: FYI
From: Mr. Lee Valiant
Head of Compliance at Fubon Bank Hong Kong
Home: 9 Mody Road Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Email: vleehk@yandex.com
Hello
Note: You are the sole recipient so please keep our communication confidential.
I am writing you this email letter as I have information of your deceased relative who's funds are intestate here at my bank where I work. During our customer base review we found out that Alfred whom I was his account officer has been involved in an accident in mainland china. I am writing you to lay claim to the funds. I have all the necessary information to obtain the necessary documents and to make it better his lawyer is standing by to receive word that I have been able to contact you. Also I am willing to guide you through.
Please reply to this email letter as a show of good faith and also to confirm that you are a real human over 18yrs old.
Please get back to me immediately via my private email: vleehk@yandex.com
I await your response.
Thank you in anticipation.
Lee Valiant.
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Anti-fraud resources:
